OH LAUREATE!

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 11594, 21 July 1900, Page 5

OH LAUREATE !

Oar one and only poet Alfred Austin, who Is away gathering spring flowerc and inspirations at Abergavanny (writesa London correspondent), has ladled out a pretty bad Beven-verse imitation of the " Charge of the Light Brigade " in honour of Mafeking. A few samples of Alfred's muse will, I'm sure, suffioe your readers :— Once again banners fly ! Clang again bells on high, Sounding to sea and skyLonger and louder. MafeHng's glory with Kimberley, Ladysmith, Of our unctnquered kith Prouder and prouder. Hemmed in for half a year, Still with auooor near, Nor word of hope to cheer Woundei anil dying. Severed and foiled of sleep By the fierce cannon's leap, 1 hey still, still vowed to keep England's flag flying. Sound {or them martial lay 1 Crown them with battle bay, Both those who died, and they 'Gainst death could wrestle, Powell of endless fame, AH, all with equal claim, And of the storied home Gallant young Cecil. This sort of thing could be turned oat by the yard by tha tamo poet of any baok-blook journal, and just to show how easy it Is the Daily News gives the following amusing parody or the L»nreate'B luoubratjop wftb. the neoewary apologies; — Here's a vexatious thing, ' Relief of Mafekfaf?,' Now must the Laureate sing, Slag for the many. Poorly the rapture climbs, Yet must I send some rhymes Fit for to-m.orrow'a 'Times, 1 ffroro Abergavanny, Kimberley, Ladysmith— What must I rhyme it with ? Strange from its wedded ' kith' 1 Kin ' thus to sever. Here's a oonfounded name, Sard in a verse to frame t ' Baden '• must lack hia fame, f Powell ' for ever ! Bhymes are galore with ' year,' ' Near,' I've used twice, I fear, Perhaps they may kiok at ' Bpear ' 'Qoi they don't use 'em,

i Making ' fierce cannon leap ' ! Is perhaps a little steep, , Hope they will think it deep, , Fear 'twill confuse 'em. [ Confound this wretched verae, ; So plaguey hard and terse ; ( J list makes a poet curse Working for hour». Bother Old Driyton's shade, ; Bother the verso he made, Bother ' The Light Brigade," ' Now for the flowers.