Project Gutenberg Australia a treasure-trove of literature treasure found hidden with no evidence of ownership

The Koala

Edward S. Sorenson

High in the fork of a blue-gum tree,
Where far through the bushland he can see,
    Sits Booraby all day long;
Though half asleep in the noon is he,
    He harks to the wild birds’ song.

Flung over the hills that his valleys gird,
The warning note of the soldier-bird
    Comes sharp to his listening ear,
When Warrigal down in his lair has stirred
    And Reynard is slinking near.

He sees the brolgas that march and dance,
And quaint furred creatures that hop and prance
    In the flowerful vales below,
A parrot flock in his roof, perchance,
    And a fossicking old black crow.

He quakes anon at the thunder’s boom,
That sounds above like the crash of doom,
    And blinks at the lightning’s flash;
And he tightens his grip as the brush and broom
    Are tossed by the storm-wind’s lash.

But the sun succeeds, and the world looks fair;
Then he shakes the wet from his ears and hair,
    And utters a loud deep cry
That wakes the sluggards in nest and lair,
    And tells them the storm’s gone by.

This site is full of FREE ebooks - Project Gutenberg Australia