A Summer Christmas and a Sonnet upon The S.S. "Ballaarat." By Douglas B. W. Sladen |
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UPON THE S.S. “BALLAARAT,”
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 | A Summer Christmas and a Sonnet upon The S.S. "Ballaarat." |  |
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UPON THE S.S. “BALLAARAT,”
Off Ushant, May 25th, 1884.
(Dedicated to the Hon. J. B. Watt of Sydney.)
O stately ship, fast-speeding to thy port,
Our home for six bright weeks of sunny weather,
We have had many pleasant hours together
Since we embarked—voyagers of either sort,
Old colonists returning to the land
They left long since to win an independence,
And young folks, born Australians, in attendance,
Longing to see their Father's native strand.
We shall not leave our ship without a sigh.
In which were born so many loves, hopes, fears,
And friendships sure to last for many years,
Or the blithe officers who brought us by
Australia, Asia, Africa, to rest
Safe in our dear old island of the West.
| A Summer Christmas and a Sonnet upon The S.S. "Ballaarat." | |