Selected Poetry.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 1586, 22 April 1887, Page 4

Selected Poetry.

OLD TIMES AND NSW. If they could aee, who sailed the sea In tjorious days departed, Tbe ship* that now the ocean plough, They would be broken-hearted; Or learn with ire what we require, ire men expert in oiling, And handling wires and poking fires, And keeping kettles boiling. In days lonr past, when reared each mast Bnperb in canvas clothing, When tars were smart and stout of heart, What could they frel but loathing ? For now indeed the men we seed Are men expert in oiling, In handling wires, in poking fins, And keeping kett'es boiling. Of old we spoke of British Oak. And swore our tnut undying! Bnt bow, yon aee, no more are we, On wood at all relying; Us Oak no more, but iron ore, And men expert in oiling— In handling wires, in poking fires, And keeping kettles boiling. As you're aware, we then fought fair, The men-'o-wars man's-right, sirs; Bnt now we cram on steam and ram, And aink, bat seldom fight, airs; For British phick we now hsTe luck, And men expert in oiling— In handling wires, in pok : ng firee, And keeping kettles boiling. We took our atand, and band to band We fonght for Britain'a glory! We rnled the tea—ay, that did we, Bear witness eong and story! The men of yon, you reed no more, But men expert in oiling, In handling wires, in poking fires, And keeping kettles boiL'ng. Yet, never fear though death be near, We're good men and true, sirs. We'll hold our grip for seamanship And atill our duty do, sirs, Although we akulk in armoured hulk, And pat our trust in oiling— In handling wires, and poking fires, And keeping kettles boiling! Mrs C. Jobling. « HOPEFUL " HOPELESS." O'erhesd a brilliant summer sun, Around him peace and plenty; A fair position earn'd and won Ere he was five-and-twenty. One thing helack'd ; but that, he deem'a Was his, just for tbe asking ; A world of bliss the future seem'd WhQe in the sunshine basking ! Hopeful! O'erhead a weary winter sun, His fortune dire and shifty; The life so happily begun A social wreck at fifty ! That thing he lack'd and thought to gain, Was to another given : Thenceforth, for him, life's golden chain In eVry link was riven! Hopeless!