Oh! the quiet river-crossing
Where we twain were wont to ride,
Where the wanton winds were to sing
Willow branches o'er the tide.
There the golden noon would find us
Dallying through the summer day,
All the waery world behind us -
All it's tumult far away.
Oh! thoe rides across the crossing
Where the shallow stream runs wide,
When the sunset's beams were glossing
Strips of sand on either side.
We would cross the sparkling river
On the brown horse and the bay;
Watch the willows sway and shiver
And their trembling shadows play.
When the opal tints waxed duller
And a gray crept o'er the skies
Yet there stayed the blue sky's color
In your dreamy dark-blue eyes.
How the sun-god's bright caresses,
When we rode at sunet there,
Plaited among your braided tresses,
Gleaming on your silky hair.
When the last sunlight's glory
Faded off the sandy bars,
There we learnt the old, old story,
Riding homeward 'neat the stars.
'Tis a memory to be hoarded -
Oh, the follish tale and fond!
Till another stream be forded -
And we reach the Great Beyond.
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Comments
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Very pleased to find at last the full version of this poem, having previously only heard the three verses quoted in the Breaker movie. There was talk a few years ago of bringing the Breaker and Handcock back to Australia where they belong. Are you Aussies still going to do that?
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I love this poem as it mirrors my belief of the next life. We must all cross that river.
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When you read this . . . it's about the beach, and the sun, and horseback riding, and love. . . but, there's more to it than just the words. It's about spirituality. . . life. . . death.
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This, because of the very last line, seems to me like. . . either a spiritual poem, or. . . something written by a cowboy -- I'll venture to say it's probably the first.
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