Love & Loss
Queensland women have written and published compelling love poetry for more than a century. Perhaps some readers will be surprised that, despite their occasionally 'red necked' image, so have Queensland men. Click on the poem titles in the table below to read some of the best early Queensland poetry of love.
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'Himself'
2020
By Alice Guerin Crist (1927) Last night, when I was listenin’ Alone, to wind and rain, He took the chair beside me, Himself - come home again. His...
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A Dedication
1930
by James Devaney Because I went the lone ways Among the tall trees, Because I loved the blue days, The bird melodies, Deemed you I did our love...
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A Flight across the Sea
1848
by Eva Mary O'Doherty The voices of the spring are calling Among the green hills far away; The flitting lights and shades are falling O’er skies of soft...
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Barbaric Night
1944
by Howarde Tilse From the distant village Comes the throb of a native drum, And savage voices Chanting through the trees. A full moon Crystalises...
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Blue
1919
by Peter Austen The blue waves break along the shore, How blue, how blue the summer skies! Somewhere in France two brave blue eyes Lie closed for...
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Books
1917
by Zora Cross Oh, bury me in books when I am dead, Fair quarto leaves of ivory and gold, And silk octavos, bound in brown and red, That tales of...
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Brisbane
1936
BRISBANE City of the seven hills and the high-lord Sun,Cool with jade gums, hot with Poinsettia's flame-tongued blooms,Circled by sheening river, as...
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Dark Angel
1943
by Llywelyn Lucas The wings of the great dark angel – I heard them brushing, I heard them brushing but thank God not by me, And the tide of battle...
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Dark Road
2011
Dark Road By James Devaney(1939) I will be your stay When the feet falter. I will be your stay When the tears blind. Love will sweeten yet Though...
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Dead Love
2024
By Kathleen Watson When all the world awoke, I remembered we were happy, how tenderly you spoke;I remembered every word you ever said-I remembered you...
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Fiammetta
1932
by Edgar Holt From "Fiammetta" ….Sleep like the morning tide rolls out leaving me naked on a barren shore. Sharply I hear a newsboy shout, and the...
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Husband
1986
by Gwen Belson Taylor ….And somewhere is the sky still blue And the sun poignant on the morning dew As then….. And the white sea birds overhead...
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Leave-taking
2017
Farewell, old hills! No more my feet shall tread you To find the dingo’s den or emu’s nest; Beneath the eucalypts that overspread you, No...
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Lost
1885
by A.K.D YOUNG, and blithe, and gay; Slight, and small of limb; Busy, till the birds Sang their evening hymn; This the lad who, on day hot, Walked...
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Love
1941
by Paula Fitzgerald Today I laid me down beside my dear, And scanned the beauty of his sleeping face: I knew him mine, not separate, but near- We...
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Love Song
1945
by Peter Miles In the suntime came love, with the spray of the wind in her hair and a song in her eyes. Out of love issued life. In the suntime came...
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Love's coming - Grace Perry
2021
By Grace Perry[1]. The air was hushed with voiceless loveliness That trembled on the crystal brink of song, While waiting flowers drooped their heads...
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M.L.
1947
by Arthur Wade If when I'm gone you chance to think of me, Think not, I beg, that I am far away, But that from near-by shades I still can see And...
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Path at Stradbroke
1944
by E.M.England Other lovers will have found it now, Or, over-run with undergrowth and bough, It may lie list'ning to the surf's mild thunder- I...
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Rain at Dusk
2021
Rain at Dusk Rain past my window, bursting into sprayon roof, in guttering. With shining feetchildren come in and splash, their voices sweetin the...
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Remembering
2022
Remembering by June Saunders The silver sequins that are starsEmbroidering the blackOf velvet cloth o’night are spoilsOf magic pedlar-pack. Yet I would...
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Retrospect
1940
by Paul L Grano Age will not dull your eyes when mine are dim; morning will flush your cheeks though night is grim; spring-light will tint your hair when...
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The beauty of life
1917
by Zora Cross I had not dreamed that life could be so fair, Until you kissed its meaning into me, And sent my soul along its airy lea To find a...
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The Boomerang
1909
by Eva Mary O'Doherty An Australian Love Song By Fate's strong hand I am hurled away To the distance, blue and dim, From the love and light of thy...
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The Lonely Woman
2021
The Lonely Woman Where the ironbarks are hanging leaves disconsolate and pale, Where the wild vines o’er the ranges their spilt cream of blossom...
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The Mother
1919
by Peter Austen Somewhere in France he lies- Above his head the scarlet poppies blow, And silver moons have bloomed and still will bloom; Somewhere...
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Tinsel
1938
by June Saunders From Tinsel…Tinsel (The scene, a university ball, ca 1938) Bright eyes has Folly, lips that laugh and lure‑ At eight! . . . Dinner...
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Tis Fragrant Still
1923
by E. Maurice Little A scarlet rose that once was gay, And doubtless made some garden fair: But faded now-its beauty gone; Yet though it lay, as time...
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To John (III) - Alex Lire
2021
By Alex Lire[1] One day I laughed by a careless stream And felt the birds in my heart, The beauty was that of a witch’s dream, A cloud, a wind, a...
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To My Parents
2022
To My Parents by Paula FItzgerald And so,This love of theirsWill sweeten all our daysOn through the years —So that when sorrow comes — if come it must...
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Two triolets
2022
Two triolets[1] by June Saunders Triolet, 1934 Blue as a blossom-cup the skyLeans over; and the world is still,Steeped in a drowsy gold. On...
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Wanted: a husband
2018
Wanted a husband,--there's plenty, 'tis said, All through the district, who wish to get wed; Dark men and fair men, and little and tall-- Some with...
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You
2024
By Kathleen Watson (1941) Because I love you all the world is mine,though you are not. Therefore I do not pine to have you hold me in your arms, nor...