Walter Murdoch (1874–1970). The Oxford Book of Australasian Verse. 1918.

65. Dream Love

I DID not deem it half so sweet

To feel thy gentle hand,

As in a dream thy soul to greet

Across wide leagues of land.

Untouched more near to draw to you

Where, amid radiant skies,

Glimmered thy plumes of iris hue,

My Bird of Paradise.

Let me dream only with my heart,

Love first, and after see:

Know thy diviner counterpart

Before I kneel to thee.

So in thy motions all expressed

Thy angel I may view:

I shall not on thy beauty rest,

But beauty’s self in you.