Vonda Stanley's collection of early Australian bush poems

 

The Water-lily

  A lonely young wife

In her dreaming discerns

A lily-decked pool

With a border of ferns,

And a beautiful child,

With butterfly wings

Trips down to the edge of the water and sings:

“Come, mamma! Come!

Quick! Follow me!

Step out on the leave of the water-lily!”

And the lonely young wife,

Her heart beating wild,

Cries, Wait till I come,

Till I reach you my child!”

But the beautiful child

With butterfly wings

Steps out on the leaves of the lily and sings:

Come, mamma! Come!

Quick! Follow me!
And step on the leaves of the water-lily!”

And the wife in her dreaming

Steps out on the stream,

But the lily leaves sink

And she wakes from her dream.

And she knows ‘tis her dead baby’s spirit that sings:

“Come, mamma! come!

Quick! Follow me!

Step out on the leaves of the water-lily!”