"The Black Opal" by Fred Emerson Brooks
Postby gingerkid ยป Wed Mar 02, 2011 12:18 pm
"The Black Opal"
dedicated to Percy Marks
The Orchid Gem, a fairy crown;
Like bits of stars that tumbled down
In dusky settings blue or brown
Long ages yore.
The virtues of all gems we know,
Whate'er their lustre, hue or glow,
Australia's own black opals show,
And something more.
The morning's blush; the golden ray
The clouds on fire at close of day;
The purpled hills where wild flowers play
That nature bore.
The rose confessing to the dew;
The fickle ocean's changing hue;
The Southern Cross in midnight blue;
And these and more.
The palette where Jehovah laid
His ever colour, every shade,
To paint the universe he made
Both sea and shore.
A shattered rainbow in a shell,
Its glories hidden where it fell;
The gem without a parallel--
All this and more.
Mother of fire that never burns;
Whichever way the jewel turns
Some new aurora one discerns
Unseen before.
When mother earth laid bare her breast
To show what jewels she possessed,
Black opal far outshone the rest
And something more.
A cupid's heart on fire 'twould seem;
Or speckled trout in mountain stream;
The love glow in a maiden's dream
When hearts adore;
As sunbeams through rose windows fall
In haloes on cathedral wall--
God's benediction on us all--
One blessing more.
Spirit of night, the soul of day;
Just how it glows no one can say,
Save that it be some heavenly ray
Sent on before.
Whose jewelled splendour typifies
The glory of the world that lies
Beyond the Gates of Paradise
Forever more.
by Fred Emerson Brooks