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Notes
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Epigraph: "Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, saying: Ye ... have both spoken with you (sic) mouths, and fulfilled with your hand, saying, We will surely perform our vows that we have vowed, to burn incense to the queen of Heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her: ye will surely accomplish your vows, and surely perform your vows." - Jer. xliv 25.
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Dedication: TO "ISIS." The old-time Canaanites, with grateful care, / The fairest of their first-fruits always chose, / And brought them as an offering to God; / So I, from the first harvest of my pen, / Have gathered these - they were the best I had - / And brought them as an offering to thee; / For art not thou my goddess and my pride? / I would that they were worthier of thee, / But no man can give better than his best; / And, even if the verse be full of faults, / The love that prompted them is rich indeed, / And so should make amends for such defects, / And be mine incense unto thee, my Queen. SIGISMUND WOOLLEY.
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In his Preface, the author expresses the belief that his poems are 'not meritless' and makes no apology for them, 'for no Tasmanian should apologise for doing that which may, in ever so small degree, bring honour to his country'. He claims that 'the truths and wisdom' contained in the poems 'make them worthy of perusal and worthy to be remembered afterwards.'
Contents
* Contents derived from the
Melbourne,
Victoria,:Johnson and Stone's Print Shop
, 1907 version. Please note that other versions/publications may contain different contents. See the Publication Details.
- Gum Leavesi"When, fate-led, the Tasmanian wanders in lands far away from his home,", single work poetry (p. 11)
- Lenorei"She is only a girl in her childhood, but fair in my fancy is she,", single work poetry (p. 12)
- Rosebudsi"I saw two rosebuds growing on a tree,", single work poetry (p. 13)
- The Greater Englishmani"He comes from the skirts of the Empire, from the outermost parts of the earth;", single work poetry (p. 14)
- In Memory of School Daysi"Now, never forget thy schoolgirl days,", single work poetry (p. 15)
- In the Brave Days of Oldi"The present day is ours. In it we are -", single work poetry (p. 16)
- Gif-Gafi"Once they were kind to me, never speak ill of them,", single work poetry (p. 17)
- The Childreni"There's a row of children's faces with their eyes all turned upon me,", single work poetry (p. 18-19)
- Arch Islandi"Where the long ocean rollers from southward come marching in ceaseless succession,", single work poetry (p. 20-21)
- K.C.M.G.i"'Twas long ago when I was young,", single work poetry (p. 22-23)
- Calf Love - A Retrospecti"I saw a girl in the days gone by,", single work poetry (p. 24)
- The Last Posti"And now the end has come -", single work poetry (p. 25)
- A Lenten Hymni"God of the Judgment Day,", single work poetry (p. 26)
- Memoriesi"I've been thinking of days gone by, sweetheart,", single work poetry (p. 27-29)
- Rural Lovesi"When Fred and Christina go courting", single work poetry (p. 30)
- The Young Man's Friendi"Not all the Vanderbilt millions,", single work poetry (p. 31-32)
- Unable to Savei"See how the crowds throng around Him, the God of eternal salvation,", single work poetry (p. 33-34)
- The King of the Blue Gum Forestsi"See the king of the blue gum forests, as he bows his head to the breeze,", single work poetry (p. 35-36)
- Adieui"You, who have read all my verse,", single work poetry (p. 37-38)
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
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'A Spray of Gum Leaves'
1907
single work
review
— Appears in: Educational Record , July 1907; (p. 49)
— Review of A Spray of Gum Leaves 1907 selected work poetry
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'A Spray of Gum Leaves'
1907
single work
review
— Appears in: Educational Record , July 1907; (p. 49)
— Review of A Spray of Gum Leaves 1907 selected work poetry
Last amended 12 Jun 2008 14:16:00
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