RETRIBUTION.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 312, 26 September 1908, Page 7

RETRIBUTION.

> SEPTEMBER 24, I9OS. , • , : Tho ; following verses, written by -Lionel K'Terry iii Lyttelton Gaol, have been sent specially '- to The Dominion for publication:— 'l' 1.,' Athwart tho northern sky dark clouds : .assembling ... \ I' I," ; Cast- o.'er,, tho; earth a shroud of dreadful ,;..'; gloom ' ' . ' • _ r .' I' . " An' ; eyil : iiation . . . panic strickcn' . t . trembling, •• ■ ' Awilits' the. crash of doom." ' ■ • ■ 11. Far o'er tho silent sea tho blood light gleaming, P"roclamis : the .rising, of a pagan! foe.' ; '] Steel'V'foMresscs inj grim ' proo'e'ssiou'stca.ming •■j Hefaldvtha hour ■ of-.w'pe.-vj 'M'.'' ■' ■■■' -{■ ! Th'pu'- J ii.ast';';no : hope'..; 0 1 .-blind'. and . foolish ; 'VT-.-.'.iV;-'."".; J•I Thou.would'st not'he'e'd- thoprpphet's-wtariiig , j cry''-'O ■ - v ■' ' ' The; aucient Law decrees 'its;;consummation— I; Alli'things';corrupt, shall die;.'; . V •<; . .; . ■ : Wheni'the;pagan cry "Banzail'Banzai!" shall i >■ '-'ring -in the-bloody street, ... v. Andi ty';fortress ' wall .shall totter -.and fall to : . L ',the, guns .of the. pagan fleet; '.A ■ j Thou ; slialt: once more tho,,ancient, taw - from | ► • .the: throno. of: the A..:; v ,] . Wliicli; tK6u w'puld'st not heed.:iii",thy cowardly j ;Ii grei'd : tfhen J twas; taught inipity and leye»- ;.1 -^1. -j x \ ■!when' thywomen., stand, in the market, placo , ] tbe .taunts of a -hidcqxis ;tliroiig ' : •, .1 To bplbo'iight and sold, for tlie/pagan-gold-and j p-w.'to''.suffer,-thb deadly' Wrong,'! ::.,' 'i;-;,-.'. : | iThPu-'.sh'alti feel' tho flame ;of thy- burning; sliamo. ,'j : l ahd-.bitter]y. ; :"slialt thou;.rue > • ;v : : ~ .- ] The day- .thou did'st brand- the 'prophet as mad aiid/follow the ,luro of the ..'Jew. ',' | YI i: • Sdej-no-w. amid despair and., desolation,' ; .'] of' God .rovealedl throughoutythj . j .'' . 'land; ■ ' -c v " . 5 • : 1 , 1p.0d > 'fire, and strife, shall ond .in devastation' . • Ir .l'hp.aiicieut. Law shall stand!;j "'/M" " ; i .' Where arc thy fighting men? Where are i :■'..thy ,: fortresses?:" , j •. Slaves, cannot keep'the'furious foe at bay! i ! : The-, thousand miles' pf mortgaged wilderness . Thine impotence botray. - ' ' I■■ j ' I'■1'■ : .yill. ' • ~j A.'cbuntry bare; human:habitationl ; Sitive-crowded cities open to" the foe; •{ IIA.-peOple'steeped'in vico and degradation}. . j ; yO. ;thou' : .;.hast' fallen * low!;; • I, ; - j IXi As bursts tho thunderbolt from blackened j heaven, .. j So shall the awful Truth burst o'er thy land. •' ~ As falls tho mighty rock by lightning riven, '] .So shalt thou fail. " , j LIONEL TERRY. . J i !