THE CHURCHILL BOOK

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 51, Issue 3151, 31 July 1942, Page 6

THE CHURCHILL BOOK

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Will Lawson, now in Sydney and one of the oldest and best-known of New Zealand poets, has written an inspiring poem on the Churchill Book, the cornerstone of the Churchill Auctions. His arresting verses should greatly assist the campaign to secure gifts of literary and art treasures for patriotic funds:— Here is a book whose story Out of the past is -bringing Something of England’s story,

Of a brave island singing— Of Kings who lived to fashion An Empire wide for free men— Of shores the free seas crash* on,

An Empire held by seamen. Down dim and dusty ages Has culture’s lamp been burning, Hidden in musty pages, Waiting the readers’ turning. Blazing from eyes of zealots, Through cloudy, dark days showing, Stamped on by boots and helots, Yet still undaunted glowing. Let us not hoard or cherish, Too much, arts, -jewels precious, Lest in our hands they perish, Fading like visions specious; When to the march of Sandals The light we trimmed so truly, In lantern flame or candles * Dies in war’s flames unduly. Within shy culture’s portals Let giving be your iby-word, Holding for the immortals Art’s blazoned beacon skyward. So, 'by your glad, free giving— To needy war funds .swelling— By the lost arts and living, Of Britain’s glory telling. —I am, etc., CITIZEN.