  Under the deep blue vault Of a hot relentless sky, Burns the hot red deep, and the hot red road, And the choking dust like a rust corrode Soars up in spirals high. Under the sun-gilt span Of a hot and brazen sky, Cries the thirsty drift for a summer rain, Baring its naked stones in vain And its mud in misery. Under the cloudless curve Of a wide remorseless sky Sleeps the patchy scrub of the sweeping veld And the slim blue gums, and the wattle belt Where the shrike broods watchfully. Under the sullen glare Of the grim unblinking sky The hot dorp pants, the red roofs daze, The mule tracks scorch, the iron-stones blaze In their sun-struck agony. |
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