The Morning Star paled slowly, the Cross hung low to the sea,
And down the shadowy reaches the tide came swirling free,
The lustrous purple blackness of the soft Australian night
Waned in the grey awakening that heralded the light;
Still in the dying darkness, still in the forest dim
The pearly dew of the dawning clung to each giant limb,
Till the sun came up from ocean, red with the cold sea mist,
And smote on the limestone ridges, and the shining tree-tops kissed
Then the fiery Scorpion vanished, the magpie’s note was heard,
And the wind in the she-oak wavered and the honeysuckles stirred;
The airy golden vapour rose from the river breast,
The kingfisher came darting out of his crannied nest,
And the bullrushes and reed-beds put off their sallow grey
And burnt with cloudy crimson at the dawning of the day.
Notes
The Cross—The constellation of the Southern Cross, which appears to become lower in the sky towards the morning. Rudyard Kipling has a similar phrase in The Native Born: “And the Cross swings low for the morn.”
The fiery Scorpion—The brilliant constellation Scorpio. It contains Antares, a star of the first magnitude, which shines with a reddish light.
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Comments
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I see this often, it never ceases to amaze me how purely clear and perfect are the sunrises in Australia.
Cuthbertson is much in the shadow of Lawson, Kendall and Paterson. He should be in the forefront of Australia's Poets. -
It was a surprise to me that I made comment here back in September 2003 but I have to say my feelings about this poem have not changed. I've watched the sunrise so many times over the years from both shore and boat and it never fails to amaze and enthrall me. this poem, however good we all feel it is only serves to give an insight into the glory of the experience. One has to witness it and feel it in our hearts to get the full effect. Von
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I learned this poem in grade school in WA and have been trying to track it down all my like. Thanks to Google, I have now found it. SO Australian.
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A great poem to be read to a group of people.
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This was an inspiring piece. Makes me want to go to Australia just to view the sunset.
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Grrr.... stupid AP won't let me edit my company. I didn't even read that this was an Oldpoetry posting. Well, regardless, it was a beautiful and moving write. Whatever comments above that can still apply, do
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Wow, I'm an Aussie and I've never really thought about the beauty of the sunset. But you've done it justice and then some here, because this was an absolutely beautiful poem. So many things you don't notice every day, like the magpie's call, but you wish you did.
Wonderfully written! -
Australians all the way baby! I loved the familiar picture you painted, when all things seem crazy and lost in this mixed up world, it brings me great comfort to gaze into the warm, serene, happy surroundings of an Australian dawn
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As another Australian,this is a wonderful way to describe our sunrises,we have an amazing country,i would not want to live anywhere but here.
A very wonderful write,thank you for showing it to us.
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What a beautifully splendid way to describe an Australian Sunrise. This poem has convinced me even more that I need to make that a vaction spot in the future. Never have been but would definitely like to go someday.
The poem is an excellent invitation to read more of Cuthertson's writing.
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An emotional poem for me as an Australian. This is a 'living picture' From soft shadows to half-light to the break of dawn. It's a colourful, moving description of early morning and I love it.
Von
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