Poem – Three Lost Children of Daylesford
This poem about Three Lost Children of Daylesford was written in 1867. The author is unknown. The poem was donated to the Daylesford Historical Society in 1979
When I first came they welcomed me- the ghosts and spirits past
I did my best to comfort them to tell their story true
They thought they’d found a spirit free to rescue them at last
But as the years crept slowly by and no one heard their wanton cries
The spirits said ‘Enough’
‘Let them believe the lies and leave the legend as it is’
The truth it hurts too much
But slowly people on this side began to ask the question why
And people of today came by; saw the hollows past the trees
In a story turned as legend grew the spirits feared the worst
‘It’s time’ they said ‘to close the door we don’t want the truth be known
The safety of the legend long will keep our secrets safe and gone’
So they all joined force together as they did so long ago
And the spirits of our bushland closed once more the door
Where once three boys were placed in a birth tree standing tall
To give them another chance to live, a chance to grow- to live again
Only a wisp of truth was left the rest was on the wind
But now the spirits turn from me- embrace a new spirit turned free
For she has turned the legend back to keep the truth again in check
The spirits of the bush cloak over sleeping boys once more
The space where once stood a mighty tree
To wait their new rebirth.
both sad and beautiful.