NEW ZEALAND VERSE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 211, 19 August 1933, Page 10

NEW ZEALAND VERSE

THE TEACHER-AT THE END OF TERM.

(By Dulce Carman.)

As a sequel to “Winter Holidays” this writer (by special request) has contributed this poem which will surely appeal to the teacher who asked for it and others, too: —

With bandaged brow the weary teacher sits, Her table with exam, papers piled high, Hunting elusive punctuation, whilst The light of battle gleams within her eye— That girls so old could be so careless, draws From tired lips a long-drawn quivering sigh, At end of term!

Ah! How she longs for one good game of golf, To with the throng of merry dancers whirl — Or motor in the driving rain, and feel That earth no longer held a High Schoolgirl. That science essays were a nightmare past, And she might now sweet freedom’s flag unfurl, At end of term!

Do not despair—deliverance is near — Three weeks of joyful holiday draw nigh. The grey storm-clouds of weeks are rolling back, There’s quite a gleam of blue across the sky. Into the cupboard toss those blotted books, And then forget them, time will soon flit by— And bring next term!