Walter Murdoch (1874–1970). The Oxford Book of Australasian Verse. 1918.

69. The Faces of Memory

DREAM faces bloom around your face

Like flowers upon one stem;

The heart of many a vanished race

Sighs as I look on them.

The sun rich face of Egypt glows,

The eyes of Eire brood,

With whom the golden Cyprian shows

In lovely sisterhood.

Your tree of life put forth these flowers

In ages past away:

They had the love in other hours

I give to you to-day.

One light their eyes have, as may shine

One star on many a sea,

They look that tender love on mine

That lights your glance on me.

They fade in you; their lips are fain

To meet the old caress:

And all their love is mine again

As lip to lip we press.