OINTMENT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 31 July 1926, Page 7

OINTMENT.

.1 took the breath of a rose that grew From a Leap of rot and mould; 1 took the song of ec-sitacy From «• bird that sang on. a leafless tree 3;n a wind tliia/t was bleak and cold.

I took the Light of a. .star which shone Through the 'black of a hopeless night; I took the sigh an old dog gave Ais lie .starved at the side of his ■master’s grave J.n the’ fading .sunset light.

1 took these things for my heart to heal. Of a would and its weary ache—i The poisoned' scourge of a bitter tongue. And the sore in my soul a look 'ha.S' stung, T!hc. bruise that a sneer can make! —K. A. Jenner in the Australasian. TOWN AND BUSH. How dreary the city. How grimy the street, How crowded and gritty The folk of the city; The fill me with, pity Whenever we meet. How dreary the city. How grimy the street. The, bush-land is calling "And 1 must away. Quick cloud-shadow,s' falling, . And bush-voices calling, him treating, .enthralling. How can, 1 delay ? The bush-land is calling, Amid I must away. ,J. S. Litchfield in the Australasian.

FIRST LIGHT

The crystal light of morning Paints all my window in, And through the open casement The air comes cool and thin. All night the tide of darkness Flowed past my window sill, While little sounds half uttered AI ado silence deeper still. Sweet scents went by, and breezes, And passed without a sound; The little lives of midnight She wraps her mantle round. All mystery, all magic The flowing darkness bore, That now is sped and gathered On some dream-haunted shore. The thin bright sword of daylight That flashes through the air Slits up the cloak of darkness And lays earth’s beauty bare. Ruth Al. Bedford in the Sydney Morning- Herald.