Kenneth Slessor, held by many to be Australia's finest poet, was a successful journalist, and for a time (a time which Slessor described as 'frustrating') was Australia's Official War Correspondent in the UK, Greece, the Middle East and New Guinea. As well as being a classic, romantic poet, he was also an engaging companion, a bon viveur, and a man prone to stormy relationships with the women in this life.
Dutton, G, 1991, Kenneth Slessor, Penguin Books Australia, Ringwood, Victoria
I looked out of my window in the dark
At waves with diamond quills and combs and combs of light
That arched their mackerel-backs and smacked the sand
In the moon's drench, that straight enormous glaze,
And ships far off asleep, and Harbour-buoys
Tossing their fireballs wearily each to each,
And tried to hear your voice, but all I heard
Was a boat's whistle, and the scraping squeal
Of seabirds' voices far away, and bells,
Five bells, Five bells coldly ringing out.
Five Bells, 1939