Sunrise on the Coast

  Grey dawn on the sand-hills—the night wind has drifted

   All night from the rollers a scent of the sea;

  With the dawn the grey fog his battalions has lifted,

   At the call of the morning they scatter and flee.

  Like mariners calling the roll of their number

   The sea-fowl put out to the infinite deep.

  And far over-head—sinking softly to slumber—

   Worn out by their watching, the stars fall asleep.

  To eastward, where resteth the dome of the skies on

   The sea-line, stirs softly the curtain of night;

  And far from behind the enshrouded horizon

   Comes the voice of a God saying "Let there be light."

  And lo, there is light!  Evanescent and tender,

   It glows ruby-red where
 'twas now ashen-grey;

  And purple and scarlet and gold in its splendour—

   Behold, 'tis that marvel, the birth of a day!

Andrew Barton “Banjo” Paterson

Title: Saltbush Bill, J.P., and Other Verses