Struan 1964 - Adm.monash.edu.au

DECADENCE
Pinnacles, crags and b lackened cl iffs - the island
s ta nds - a fortress
scu lp t u red and sha ped to a monstrous form,
a t hreatening visage,
a giant sea-se rp e n t in an ocean storm.
Upon these cl iff s there ro se a castle, ha lf hidden
by towering pines
that w h ispe red strange, unknown secrets,
and tossed their boughs
to the sk ies .
The castle here dominates,
a sy m bo l of pathetic majesty,
a refuge
of tormented kings.
Wh ils t a m id these rocks and rill s
the sea -bi rds w heel, wi t h s low,
monotonous m ov ement of w ings ,
Bey ond - beneath the trees, w he re
tangled weeds and c reepe rs gr ow,
th e re lay
an unkept qrcve - forgot te n
a nd fo r lorn
- And , a ll a mo ngst th is ruin and decay
a sing le w ild red rose,
a p u re an d fr ag rant b loom,
stretched for t h its th orny a rms
a nd b lecdi nq hood in an appeal
agai nst th e years of scorn .
And a s ha ft of light
fell upo n thi s grave;
The sea fe ll s ile n t,
an d the storm d ied aw ay .
E. POMOTHY
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