The Maidens of Australia [poem, 1 October 1902]

[Editor: A poem published in the Guyra Argus, 1 October 1902.]

The Maidens of Australia

Oh! the maidens of Australia, how beautiful and fair,
With eyes like diamonds shining, and richly flowing hair;
With hearts so light and cheerful and their spirits ever gay,
Oh! the maidens of Australia, how beautiful are they.

They are like the wattle blossom, that in the spring does bloom,
Casting all around them their rich and sweet perfume;
Our eyes and hearts delighting, wherever we may stray,
Oh! the maidens of Australia, how beautiful are they.

They smile when we are happy, and when we are sad they sigh,
When sorrow fills our bosoms, the eye they gently dry;
Thrice happy in this golden land that owns their tender sway,
Oh! the maidens of Australia, how beautiful are they.

Then, like true born Australians, we’ll join both heart and hand,
To protect the lovely maidens, of this, our native land;
May heaven ever bless them, we will devoutly pray,
For the maidens of Australia, how beautiful are they.

W. H. M.
Guyra, Sept 26, 1902.

Source:
Guyra Argus (Guyra, NSW), 1 October 1902, p. 8

[Editor: Corrected “devotly” to “devoutly”; changed “and we are sad” to “and when we are sad”.]