Collected Poems of Rupert Brooke — Fafaia

Fafaia Stars that seem so close and bright, Watched by lovers through the night, Swim in emptiness, men say, Many a mile and year away.

And yonder star that burns so white, May have died to dust and night Ten, maybe, or fifteen year, Before it shines upon my dear.

Oh!

often among men below, Heart cries out to heart, I know, And one is dust a many years, Child, before the other hears.

Heart from heart is all as far, Fafaia, as start from star.

Saanapu, November 1913. Appendix NOTE

The Appendix contains: (1) the only two coherent fragments found in the notebook which Brooke used in the last month of his life; a little song, written, I think on his travels; and a poem, dating probably from 1912, which for some reason he left unrevised; (2) a few "lighter" poems which I dare say he would have printed on their merits if he had published a volume in which they would not have been out of key.

Two of these, the "Letter to a Live Poet" and "The Little Dog's Day," were written for Westminster Gazette competitions, in which they won prizes.

Edward Marsh