| Walter Murdoch (1874–1970). The Oxford Book of Australasian Verse. 1918. |
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| 63. A Sonnet of Battle |
| | | By William Gay |
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| RELUCTANT Morn, whose meagre radiance lies | |
| With doubtful glimmer on the farthest hills, | |
| How long shall men, reiterant of their ills, | |
| With peevish invocation bid thee rise | |
| To burn to noontide glory in the skies | 5 |
| That now a gloom perplexed and starless fills, | |
| And seek from thee and not their own strong wills | |
| That perfect good which is not bought with sighs? | |
| Why weep and wait for thee, though laggard, Morn, | |
| With all thy joys of love and peace and light? | 10 |
| For us the mightier joy that rives the soul, | |
| When, slaves no longer to a day unborn, | |
| Our flag of war along the dark we unroll | |
| For fell encounter with the hosts of Night. | |
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