Fall the shadows on the gullies, fades the purple from the mountain; And the day that's passing outwards down the stairways of the sky, With its kindly deeds and sordid on its folded page recorded, Waves a friendly hand across the range to bid the world "good-bye." Comes a buoyant peal of laughter from the tall, white, slender timber, Rugged mirth that floods the bushland with the joy of brotherhood, With the rustic notes sonorous of a happy laughing chorus, When the kookaburras bless the world because the world is good. Oh, 'tis good and clean and wholesome when we take the sheep-track homewards, And the kindly kitchen chimney flaps its homely bannerets; All our twigs of effort, shooting golden promise for the fruiting, Bring a night in peace enfolded that a useful day begets. Hopeful dreams, their visions weaving, steel our hearts against to- morrow, And we dare the challenge, strengthened by today's assaults withstood; Beam the pregnant days before us; and another laughing chorus Wraps the world in rippling revelry, because the world is good. Loving eyes to watch our coming, loving arms to twine around us-- Tender tendrils, soft and silken, firmer far than iron stay-- All our little world upholding, gentle hearts and home enfolding, And a cheery, friendly neighbour dropping in upon his way: Mellow joy the soul refreshes with the scented breath of heaven, With the whispered songs of other spheres, hereafter understood: Angels keep their sure watch o'er us: and another laughing chorus Flings a vesper blessing round the world, because the world is good. J. O'Brien