I think if you've lived the average life, And been fair to everyone, 'Twill matter little what you have done Or what you have left undone When you sail by the South West Cape of Life Where the baffling West Winds blow, By the reefs of Doubt that run far out To a Lighthouse sadly low, The low Lighthouse, The low Lighthouse, To a Lighthouse sadly low. But 'twill matter a lot the brave, wise words, The words that you left unsaid — The kind, forgiving, repentant words That you can't say when you're dead; How many hearts, and one, they'd help You'll surely never know, Till your pride has died when the waves break wide Out there by the Lighthouse low, By the low Lighthouse, The low Lighthouse, By the Lighthouse sadly low Those poor, pale ghosts of the Wish-we-had Shall haunt while the Home Fires burn — The kindly letters we always should Have answered by return. Oh, we meant to write and we meant to write Till it is (or seems) too late — There's a mail ashore where the breakers roar, Ere you pass through the South-West Gate. By the low Lighthouse, The low Lighthouse, By the Lighthouse sadly low There were "straight wire" scrawls from the good old mate And the mate that I never met; Perhaps in an outback hell they wait, For a line from the "inside" yet; And I lie and think in Hospital here With aching limbs and brow How she begged for a sign, if only a line — And I wish I could write it now. Near the low Lighthouse, The low Lighthouse, Down here near the Lighthouse low. No business to press, but we "lose the address", Or pleasure — and then we forget Till a dark day of rain finds us searching in vain For his or for her address. Yet I'm back from death and I feel the breath Of a glorious East Wind blow, And I'll do my bit to make up for it When we've weathered the Lighthouse low. The low Lighthouse, The low Lighthouse, When I've rounded the Lighthouse low Australian Poet - Henry Lawson (1921)
@Ian...that is absolutely a beautiful poem with such sorrow and longing and perhaps great regret...thanks for posting. Perhaps we all should take more time out of our busy daily lives to reflect and be thankful and reach out to those we care about or in need. Great post, thank you!
