| Walter Murdoch (1874–1970). The Oxford Book of Australasian Verse. 1918. |
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| 131. O Heart of Spring! |
| | | By Shaw Neilson |
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| O HEART of Spring! | |
| Spirit of light and love and joyous day, | |
| So soon to faint beneath the fiery Summer: | |
| Still smiles the Earth, eager for thee alway: | |
| Welcome art thou, soever short thy stay, | 5 |
| Thou bold, thou blithe newcomer! | |
| Whither, O whither this thy journeying, | |
| O heart of Spring? | |
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| O heart of Spring! | |
| After the stormy days of Winter’s reign, | 10 |
| When the keen winds their last lament are sighing, | |
| The Sun shall raise thee up to life again: | |
| In thy dim death thou shalt not suffer pain: | |
| Surely thou dost not fear this quiet dying? | |
| Whither, O whither this thy journeying, | 15 |
| O heart of Spring? | |
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| O heart of Spring! | |
| Youth’s emblem, ancient and unchanging light, | |
| Uncomprehended, unconsumed, still burning: | |
| Oh that we could, as thou, rise from the night | 20 |
| To find a world of blossoms lilac-white, | |
| And long-winged swallows unafraid returning… | |
| Whither, O whither this thy journeying, | |
| O heart of Spring? | |
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