Just saw the Australian movie "Breaker Morant" - 1980. Timely. I recommend it.

It seems Breaker Morant was a poet.


AT THE RIVER-CROSSING by Harry "Breaker" Morant

Oh! the quiet river-crossing
Where we twain were wont to ride,
Where the wanton winds were to sing
Willow branches o'er the tide.


There the golden noon would find us
Dallying through the summer day,
All the weary world behind us -
All it's tumult far away.


Oh! Those rides across the crossing
Where the shallow stream runs wide,
When the sunset's beams were glossing
Strips of sand on either side.


We would cross the sparkling river
On the brown horse and the bay;
Watch the willows sway and shiver
And their trembling shadows play.


When the opal tints waxed duller
And a gray crept o'er the skies
Yet there stayed the blue sky's color
In your dreamy dark-blue eyes.


How the sun-god's bright caresses,
When we rode at sunset there,
Plaited among your braided tresses,
Gleaming on your silky hair.


When the last sunlight's glory
Faded off the sandy bars,
There we learnt the old, old story,
Riding homeward 'neat the stars.


'Tis a memory to be hoarded -
Oh, the foolish tale and fond!
Till another stream be forded -
And we reach the Great Beyond.



Here is another:

TO A SILENT GIRL by Harry "Breaker" Morant

When the skill'd fashioner of female faces
Designed your mask, he wrought with cunning fist,
And made a mouth expressly to be kiss'd -
Not for shrill utterance nor pert grimaces.


The curved, ripe lips-above the rounded chin -
He dyed the hue of summer's reddest rose,
Then placed a smile upon them to disclose
A glimpse of white and even pearls within.


Those lips are silent, sweetheart! - but your eyes
Are eloquent, and they love's lesson teach
Better than other woman's aptest speech -
In their soft light the tend'rest language lies.


In womankind - the world has long confess'd -
A silent mouth and speaking eyes are best.

*Breaker Morant did not stay married long.

I didn't see any Breaker Morant poetry here. Maybe he should be listed.