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James Brunton Stephens

I lived from 1835-1902. I was from Australia, and am in the Oceania category.

To the period of Australian poets Kendall and Gordon one can add also the earlier work of the Queensland poet, James Brunton Stephens, a Scot who travelled to Australia in 1866. The popularity of Stephens rests chiefly on his humorous poems, such as To a Black Gin and Universally Respected.

Stephens a poet of great strength and fine imagination. His first poem, Convict Once, is a tale of remarkable power and gloom; and among his lyrics are several which, for their music and their passion, are much to be prized.
Technically, Stephens is noteworthy for his strong handling of dactylic metres.

He died in 1902

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  • The Dark Companion
    There is an orb that mocked the lore of sages
    Long time with mystery of strange unrest;
    49 lines, 1 comment
  • Night
    Hark how the tremulous night-wind is passing in joy-laden sighs;
    Soft through my window it comes, like the fanning of pinions angelic,
    19 lines
  • The Power of Science
    "All thoughts, all passions, all delights,
    Whatever stirs this mortal frame,"
    116 lines
  • The Gentle Anarchist
    I am a gentle Anarchist,
    I couldn't kick a dog,
    38 lines
  • Day
    Linger, oh Sun, for a little, nor close yet this day of a million!
    Is there not glory enough in the rose-curtained halls of the West?
    17 lines
  • The Dominion Of Australia {A Forecast}
    SHE is not yet, but he whose ear
    Thrills to that finer atmosphere
    62 lines
  • Not Understood
    Not understood, we move along asunder;
    Our paths grow wider as the seasons creep
    35 lines, 1 comment
  • Spirit of Song
    Where is thy dwelling-place? Echo of sweetness,
    Seraph of tenderness, where is thy home?
    30 lines
  • Convict Once - Part Second.
    EVEN as water to him who thirsts wayfaring, dust-dry and burning,
    After sore heat and long stumbling in courses with never a rill,
    372 lines
  • Convict Once - Part First.
    FREE again! Free again! eastward and westward, before me, behind me,
    Wide lies Australia! and free are my feet, as my soul is, to r
    690 lines
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