Far to the Northward there lies a land, br A wonderful land that the winds blow over, br And none may fathom or understand br The charm it holds for the restless rover; br A great grey chaos -- a land half made, br Where endless space is and no life stirreth; br There the soul of a man will recoil afraid br From the sphinx-like visage that Nature weareth. br But old Dame Nature, though scornful, craves br Her dole of death and her share of slaughter; br Many indeed are the nameless graves br Where her victims sleep by the Grey Gulf-water. br Slowly and slowly those grey streams glide, br Drifting along with a languid motion, br Lapping the reed-beds on either side, br Wending their way to the North Ocean. br Grey are the plains where the emus pass br Silent and slow, with their dead demeanour; br Over the dead man's graves the grass br Maybe is waving a trifle greener. br Down in the world where men toil and spin br Dame Nature smiles as man's hand has taught her; br Only the dead men her smiles can win br In the great lone land by the Grey Gulf-water. br br For the strength of man is an insect's strength br In the face of that mighty plain and river, br And the life of a man is a moment's length br To the life of the stream that will run for ever. br And so it comes that they take no part br In small world worries; each hardy rover br Rides like a paladin, light of heart, br With the plains around and the blue sky over. br And up in the heavens the brown lark sings br The songs the strange wild land has taught her; br Full of thanksgiving her sweet song rings -- br And I wish I were back by the Grey Gulf-water.