SELECTED VERSE

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 21 August 1926, Page 18

SELECTED VERSE

THE FIRST SNOWDROP. There was sun and wind in her idee; There was wind and sun in her hair ; Tiie shadows of tree and Lace Lay on her there. She was dryad, and woman and child; She was nymph, and gipsy and mm: Whimsical, wistful, and mild— All these in one 1 thought of poppies and wheat; Or a siim, brown, woodland tree; Of grasses blowing and sweet. And the wind-blown sea.' t ! thought of winter' and spring; Of songs and laughter and pain, Clouds, and the gentle sting Of grey, .soft rain. ! thought of stars and the night ; Of children lovely in sleep ; Of sky, and wings and flight. And quiet sleep. She was a dream and a song, And a story just begun; And the story grows sweet and long In wind and sun. Barbara Voting. HOMESICK. The grey gulls soar above the sea, Where the sails are white as foam, And iny heart flies with them on their flight Towards sunset, and towards home. To be sick for home in the sight of the fields Is not the same as to be Sick for home on a lone sea coast With the gulls above the sea. The grey gulls soar above the sea, Where the sails are white as foam, And tlie gulls will reach their nests to-night, But not my heart its home. —Ellen Francis Gilbert. SPRING SONGS. . And the, little blackbird builds below the catkin shaking, And the sweet white violet's arc beauty in the blood, And the daffodils are there, and the blackthorn blossom breaking Is a wild white beauty in bud. —John Masefield. When the spring sun brightens And the dull sky clears, They blow their golden trumpets, Those golden trumpeteers! They blow their golden trumpets And they shake their glancing spears. —Geoifrey Howard. IF ONLY KINDNESS RULED. If each of us would try to do Some kind and thoughtful! act each day, Just step aside to do in love One deed out of the common way —

To say some word of cheer, perhaps, Or honest praise to those that live Oppressed by doubt; some message write That might fresh inspiration give.

To flagging spirits weak and spent; E’en to. the humblest and the lea’st Of all God’s creatures minister Lii tenderness—or man or beast; Oh. what a different place would he This world of ours! How great the snip Of joy ’twoukl know, could kindness Mere habit in this way become! THE BOY WHO POUND PUCK. A boy went looking for Puck one day through an eehanted door, Over the fields and far away —anti lie came back no more.

Puck he found. 1 and' liis pixie crew in the wood, beyond the lane, And. the wood and the fields and the world he knew were never the same again.

They were spinning a dream which he who buys must pay what a. dream will cost, They touched his ears and they touched his 1 eyes lest ever that dream be lost.

Tliev told him, the words of elfin ..lore, 'the little gay words with wings; They, tap at the heart —the children s door —and say incredible things.

Puck in the greenwood laughed and spoke: “Kin to the wild is he. Kin to the furred: and feathered folk and the whole of Faerie.”

A boy rail out in the morning light, bound on a brave intent ; A boy came hack at the fall of light—but never the boy who went. —Child Verses from Punch.

THE PRODIGAL (Ballade.)

Hearken, Lord; to a tired man praying Anguished, with clasped hands heaven-spread; Weary of wanton and ceaseless stray-

ing. Praying only that I be led To the old lost roads I were fain to tread. Hear, from out Thy immortal Vast — Grant, before I he dulled or- dead, Let me return' to old loves at last!

If in my folly I mocked: ‘‘Decaying Are morals and manners; the better fled! That the lures we love he the. less delaying!” Lord, forgive me for all I ‘said. If I have '.feasted, and 1 then, full-fed. Sneered': ‘‘lt is meet that the poor should fast!” Lord, I have eaten of bitter bread. . . Let me return to old loves at last!

A little while since, and I stood a-weighing Earth and its efforts; and straightway sped In the wake of them who were bent on playing With fire for frolic; but now, instead I were content with the bills for bed. I would school my body on husks or mast. For wine, old sunsets remembered, Let me return to old loves at last! . Envoy. I.w<l. at least, have I witnessed The bond of the soul to its sacred pa st; Let me recover my fellowhead! Let me return to old loves at last! . —H. G. Beddington.