Two Stars [poem by Grant Hervey]

[Editor: This poem by Grant Hervey was published in Australians Yet and Other Verses, 1913.]

Two Stars

Two stars that burn when the rest do fade — two beacons blazing ever ;
When the skies grow dark and the heart’s afraid their twin fires darken never !
Across the seas do they glint and gleam — sing hey for the sweet, safe steering,
When the Light of Love on the starboard beam shines red with lips’ warm cheering ;
When the rebels drive to port a-glee and the blood-hued flags are wavin’,
Sing ho for the Light of Liberty that leads them to their haven !

All stars save two burn dim and wane, all Lights save two lead tomb-ward ;
No soul that heads thro’ storm and rain for them goes ever doom-ward !
For the Light of Love gleams all night long, no burning low, no quenching ;
Its fires stream out, clear, blazing, strong, when the cheeks and hearts are blenching.
O, no craft that keeps to the flame-marked way and steers for Libertados
Need fear, tho’ the mists be dark and grey ahead like grim rock-shadows,

And by basalt rock and ironstone ramp that ill-steered soul-ships dash on,
Is the star of Love a Lighthouse Lamp, bright-lit with Flame of Passion !
By the gloomy depths of bondage dark where sunk rocks wait the free man,
There’s a Light that guides to doom no bark, and drowns no stout-souled seaman !
There are two stars, red when the rest sink low, that turn thro’ mist and hazing !
And sage are the ships that heed the glow of those twin beacons blazing !

Source:
Grant Hervey. Australians Yet and Other Verses, Thomas C. Lothian, Melbourne, 1913, pages 68-69