Our New Zealand Poets

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 151, 27 June 1936, Page 5 (Supplement)

Our New Zealand Poets

LIGHT. (By HELEN BROOKFIELD.) Open the door that the dawn may enter in— An angel presence that the hills' pure breath exhaleth; Oh, through wide windows let morn venture then. Dispelling night and tears that naught availeth; And by my bed of pain let her lay down her gifts of light and clarity and hope— Her gift of courage, for my courage faileth. The fragrance of fresh verdure, passing sweet, And cry of birds in. leafy coverts waking, * On flowing surge of wind go forth to greet The light behind their hills of shadow breaking; And, morning sweeping down the sighing upland, Who's to say on the incoming tide, No ships of mine come bravely breasting home, Like birds of passage bearing on the west wind— Far-faring ships, to me so long denied! See how at anchor safe they lie at last, On seas of light by tempest lately tried, Whence night has past. Oh, morning, come! with fresh and fragrant gifts, In starry regions culled by angel hands; And prayerful as the dews that cloudward lift When day breaks as of old on olden lands, To spheres of faith and courage and content, Transport my mind. These doors are wide, And as the windows of my house call dawn inside, So doth my soul await the light's advent. PRAYER. (By ELSA FLAVELL.) Which is the way, oh, God, for us to pi-ay, To lift adoring eyes to far blue hills, Or by a bed to kneel at night and say "Have pity, Lord, upon our little ills!" To lie upon the kind earth's breast and dream Of things more distant than the stars and sun, Or piously to say, "Oh, may Thou deem Forgiven all the wrongs that we have done!" Should prayer be joy, or should it be a cry Tg Thee for comfort, which we well ' might find In loveliness of trees aud hills and sky ? Shouldst Thou stoop down to us, oh, Mighty Mind, Or should we lift our finite selves to Thee, And lose ourselves in Thy infinity?