[Editor: This poem by C. J. Dennis was published in The Singing Garden (1935).] Heat Wave Day after day, week after burning week, A ruthless sun has sucked the forest dry. Morn after anxious morn men’s glances seek The hills, hard-etched against a harder sky. Gay … [Read more...] about Heat Wave [poem by C. J. Dennis]
The Singing Garden (C. J. Dennis 1935)
North Wind [poem by C. J. Dennis]
[Editor: This poem by C. J. Dennis was published in The Singing Garden (1935).] North Wind Dawn came this morning ominous and grim. The circle of the sun rose bloated where, Seen thro’ the scudding cloud, its angry rim Burned dull and copper hued — a sullen glare. The … [Read more...] about North Wind [poem by C. J. Dennis]
This lonely forest [story by C. J. Dennis]
[Editor: This story by C. J. Dennis was published in The Singing Garden (1935).] This lonely forest That alleged “loneliness” which some city visitors assure me would inevitably overwhelm them were they compelled to live for long in this quiet forest place, seems to me a … [Read more...] about This lonely forest [story by C. J. Dennis]
Summer [poem by C. J. Dennis]
[Editor: This poem by C. J. Dennis was published in The Singing Garden (1935).] Summer Now comes the blossoming. At Beauty’s birth Promise is brought to proud accomplishment, And all things hymn the glory of the earth In this great symphony so subtly blent Of sight … [Read more...] about Summer [poem by C. J. Dennis]
The Tawny Frogmouth [poem by C. J. Dennis]
[Editor: This poem by C. J. Dennis was published in The Singing Garden (1935).] The Tawny Frogmouth I fly by night; a furtive ghoul, To harry small bush folk; And men who know the boobook owl Mistake me for that dish-faced fowl With his hunting cry, “Mopoke.” But … [Read more...] about The Tawny Frogmouth [poem by C. J. Dennis]
The King Parrot [poem by C. J. Dennis]
[Editor: This poem by C. J. Dennis was published in The Singing Garden (1935).] The King Parrot When the wattle curls are browning, When the blackwood’s bloom is done, When the gloom of Winter’s frowning Flees before the waxing sun, When the forest’s tears have … [Read more...] about The King Parrot [poem by C. J. Dennis]
The Bronze Cuckoo [poem by C. J. Dennis]
[Editor: This poem by C. J. Dennis was published in The Singing Garden (1935).] The Bronze Cuckoo I come at caterpillar time While Spring lags in the air, And little caterpillars climb To strip the wattles bare. Then I, in my striped guernsey clad, High in the … [Read more...] about The Bronze Cuckoo [poem by C. J. Dennis]
The English Blackbird [poem by C. J. Dennis]
[Editor: This poem by C. J. Dennis was published in The Singing Garden (1935).] The English Blackbird Sweet singer of an older land; Thro’ countless centuries A greener and a colder land Loved well by melodies; And with her venturers came I To seek beneath a sunny … [Read more...] about The English Blackbird [poem by C. J. Dennis]
The Pallid Cuckoo [poem by C. J. Dennis]
[Editor: This poem by C. J. Dennis was published in The Singing Garden (1935).] The Pallid Cuckoo Dolefully and drearily Come I with the spring; Wearily and eerily My threnody I sing. Hear my drear, discordant note Sobbing, sobbing in my throat, Weaving, wailing … [Read more...] about The Pallid Cuckoo [poem by C. J. Dennis]
The Firetail Finches [poem by C. J. Dennis]
[Editor: This poem by C. J. Dennis was published in The Singing Garden (1935).] The Firetail Finches Like little children out from school We come in bevies, primly gay; On sunlit lawn, in shadow cool With meek propriety we play And in and out about the grass We … [Read more...] about The Firetail Finches [poem by C. J. Dennis]
The Flame-Breasted Robin [poem by C. J. Dennis]
[Editor: This poem by C. J. Dennis was published in The Singing Garden (1935).] The Flame-Breasted Robin Now upon the trellis sitting, Now along the fencetop flitting, Meekly modest in my attitudes and poses; ’Neath my breast incarnadine Can this midget heart of … [Read more...] about The Flame-Breasted Robin [poem by C. J. Dennis]
The Spinebill Honeyeater [poem by C. J. Dennis]
[Editor: This poem by C. J. Dennis was published in The Singing Garden (1935).] The Spinebill Honeyeater I come in blossom-time, Singing days and sunny days, Flitting like a fairy thro’ a nectar-laden land, Flashing o’er the underbrush; Happy days and honey days Hear … [Read more...] about The Spinebill Honeyeater [poem by C. J. Dennis]
The Eastern Shrike-Tit [poem by C. J. Dennis]
[Editor: This poem by C. J. Dennis was published in The Singing Garden (1935).] The Eastern Shrike-Tit I am brightly alert and exceedingly pert, And my livery’s easily seen; With a bright golden breast and a black-and-white crest, And a back of indefinite green. A … [Read more...] about The Eastern Shrike-Tit [poem by C. J. Dennis]
The Wattle Bird [poem by C. J. Dennis]
[Editor: This poem by C. J. Dennis was published in The Singing Garden (1935).] The Wattle Bird Where the blossom glows I follow, Sipping nectar as I go. Timbered hill and wooded hollow, Shore and scrub-land, these I know; Following the floral river Flowing down a … [Read more...] about The Wattle Bird [poem by C. J. Dennis]
The Welcome Swallow [poem by C. J. Dennis]
[Editor: This poem by C. J. Dennis was published in The Singing Garden (1935).] The Welcome Swallow They know me not to praise and love aright, Who only pause to mark my headlong flight — A swift and slender crescent wheeling by Athwart Spring’s softly amaranthine … [Read more...] about The Welcome Swallow [poem by C. J. Dennis]
The Coachwhip Bird [poem by C. J. Dennis]
[Editor: This poem by C. J. Dennis was published in The Singing Garden (1935).] The Coachwhip Bird Early on a soft spring morning As the dawn climbs up the sky, With its radiant light adorning Hill and tree-top, here am I, Urging on my phantom horses Where no road … [Read more...] about The Coachwhip Bird [poem by C. J. Dennis]
The Wedge-tailed Eagle [poem by C. J. Dennis]
[Editor: This poem by C. J. Dennis was published in The Singing Garden (1935).] The Wedge-tailed Eagle Scarce am I of the earth; But lord of the air am I, In the heights I had my birth, And my range is the broad blue sky. Soaring, ever a-wing, Swooping down to the … [Read more...] about The Wedge-tailed Eagle [poem by C. J. Dennis]
Blandishing the Birds [story by C. J. Dennis]
[Editor: This story by C. J. Dennis was published in The Singing Garden (1935).] Blandishing the Birds The honourable company of bird-lovers, we are told, is rapidly increasing in numbers in all parts of the country; and while one delights to observe this growing interest … [Read more...] about Blandishing the Birds [story by C. J. Dennis]
Morning Glory [poem by C. J. Dennis]
[Editor: This poem by C. J. Dennis was published in The Singing Garden (1935).] Morning Glory Singing morning has begun. Where the wooded ranges run To far summits, there the snow Lingers yet. But down below In the quiet, green-girt places, Where full many a swift … [Read more...] about Morning Glory [poem by C. J. Dennis]
Green Walls [poem by C. J. Dennis]
[Editor: This poem by C. J. Dennis was published in The Singing Garden (1935).] Green Walls I love all gum-trees well. But, best of all, I love the tough old warriors that tower About these lawns, to make a great green wall And guard, like sentries, this exotic … [Read more...] about Green Walls [poem by C. J. Dennis]
Forest Sanctuary [poem by C. J. Dennis]
[Editor: This poem by C. J. Dennis was published in The Singing Garden (1935).] Forest Sanctuary Seek you sorely, for a space, Respite from the world’s dull fretting? Come then to a secret place — Man’s entanglements forgetting — Deep within the forest dreaming, Deep … [Read more...] about Forest Sanctuary [poem by C. J. Dennis]
The Way of the Vandal [story by C. J. Dennis]
[Editor: This story by C. J. Dennis was published in The Singing Garden (1935).] The Way of the Vandal “Never kick a bird.” I was well on the way to middle-age before I became aware of that entirely humane maxim attributed to the dear old lady who sought to reprove a … [Read more...] about The Way of the Vandal [story by C. J. Dennis]
Dawn [poem by C. J. Dennis]
[Editor: This poem by C. J. Dennis was published in The Singing Garden (1935).] Dawn Here in soft darkness where, the long watch thro’, Dreamless, my quiet garden slumbered well, Night’s soothing fingers, all adrip with dew, Crept in and out, to weave a mystic … [Read more...] about Dawn [poem by C. J. Dennis]
Foreword [to The Singing Garden, by J. McRae]
[Editor: This foreword by C. J. Dennis was published in The Singing Garden (1935).] Foreword The versatile C. J. Dennis has done it again! And this time he veritably couldn’t help it! For, after revealing himself as a great lover of mankind by his sympathetic presentation … [Read more...] about Foreword [to The Singing Garden, by J. McRae]
The Singing Garden [by C. J. Dennis, 1935]
[Editor: This book by C. J. Dennis was published in 1935. The contents of the book are divided into four sections, one for each season; included in each section is a sub-section of poetry entitled “Songs of Bush Birds”.] The Singing Garden By C. J. … [Read more...] about The Singing Garden [by C. J. Dennis, 1935]