The Spike or Victoria University College Review 1935
The Man
The Man
Beside the stream he stands, his arm along
A smooth strong branch: the very air is quick
With green, sun-dappled. On his hair there gleams
Soft netted light, thin, pure and gold.
He dreams there, happy; in his brain stir thoughts
So dear, and smalt, and sweet. The lovely spot
Is hallowed by his tenderness. Its beauty wakes
His heart to deep and hushed content, before
He sighs, and turns, and passes on his way.
Thus men have paused a moment by the stream
And seen, and felt, and dreamed, since once there came
A queer two-legged Thing with crude flint tools
Who looked, and paused, and for a moment felt
A vague sweet peacefulness; for in his strange
Primeval brain, stirred dim primeval joy
That such a spot could be. So, now and then,
One reaches here, and stops to dream, just so,
His arm along the smooth strong branch;
Then sighs, and turns, and passes on his way.
—Margaret Perrett.