VERSES OLD AND NEW.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 615, 18 September 1909, Page 9

VERSES OLD AND NEW.

, ' OPPORTUNITY. '• r : ; ' '*■: '/But who art thou,'' with., curious beaut; i . ■: : graced,- . .. .. .. . : Strango Woman, stamped with eomo brigh ' v. heavdnly seal? J Why go .thy feet on. wings? Why in sue! 3 Vj; • /;'■ • "1 ani. that maid • whose secret .few- oai steal, ; ■ Called Opportunity. I hasten by ' 'j • Because my feet'are .treading .on a' wheel, And so.I run;more !swift than.birds .can'fly. h . lAnd rightly on 1 my feet my Wings I. wear,:: ' | . ■ To' blind tho sight of those who trade and spy ; ■ '.Bightly in front I hold my. scattered hair . V To veil my'face and'down. my_ breast to fall, ! ... • lest men- should know; my name when Xan !■ there; Anfi leave behind my back no wisp at all, , ; ; For eager folk to clutch,, whu.t timo. I glide' t' i . : 80. near, and .turn, and pass beyond rccall." I■ "Tell me, who is. that figure at thy side?" -. "Penitence: mark this well, that by deoree . [ Who lets me go'must keep her.for his bride i ' 'And thou hast spont much time in talk witl ; . : I :uy£V;..;^me,S::if : : ! J?,' V''v '... : • v. : Busied with thoughts ana' fancies vainlj >■ : ~ ■ ;; ; ! .■■; : ';y- *" ; How,lightly ..I have'fled'beneath'; thj.rhand;" f' ;of HacchiAyelH; j \ ". 1; .. —James' .Elray riectar,. in. ~ tto, "Nation?' ■ j THE LAEK. . I , . The cuckoo's ehouting' May, -througl j The finches., flutter ;and call, i ';vV :"• But the lark'ha^-a'song for, every day, V : I ' ' . Every day and all. ' v . IfThe .blackbird's gotten the throat of a boy,.. i•• •.' ' . Thb'thrtashi has'a heavenly song: "• j / i,' :i '..r,; Bnt'the-laxk;he,.singsJrbm.'.the.heart .of joy,.; !-: . ' Sings through tho whole'year lonj. : | ;.' ' . ';' I. Tho .nightingale. in a honeyed''night ;•• ; Troubles,the vale'and hill, ; ' j 1 .V'But all too soon will his song take flight ; - : The lark-he is'with ns still: '•' ' '•>. . j :i ,; O'er 'the drenched 'grass' and ;the sodden wheat | . .i To the gate of heaven will spring; [i ;j Of .all the birds in tho choir, so be it, '■ The lark he. shall reign Ss King. • 1 '■ V, .• For' though, he looks 'through the gates ol ~ heaven, -. ■ 'r :,; ,v::.' ;He'comes again to the earth;.; '. ; . \ 'The greyest day and tho saddest.evon:..,. . Sise'to his heavenly mirth. ' : The birds that and; the\birds, that-flow, / ; .God send them a happy nest! • ' , v >i • • • But the lark that. stays 'with us!; all year ' '' through,.- V' ' ">■;' Old friend, he is still the' best. , '5. ' —Katharine. .Tynan,in -the" ."Westminsteir ,