Adventure

Maoriland Worker, Volume 13, Issue 26, 27 June 1923, Page 12

Adventure

Arise, old Comrades of tlie Morning" ; Star!' The wind of dawn, by echoing cliff and scnr, Stirs coldly in a wilderness of stone: To-ni.'-dn io dead; To-morrow lies '. afar. Tremendous blocks of ancient darkness high, Illyrian ranges tower into the sky Thu darkly crowns them. Halfawakened seas Heave at their feet, and travel j-lowly I by. Five hours ago, the white and royal moon Cast on our mountain:-; all her silver boon. Silver and opal Mended, argent walls Of wonder, by a faeryland lagoon. They stood, league-long above fa-? crescent bay. Where seven castles held VenstUta sway; Where pillared ruins oT Salor;.i k<? *r* Record of Roman splendour, still a:i-.t gray. Yet near them, clangin. , -;" out in 'brazen might, With furnace flame, and ruddy windows bright, Strong factory toilers labc.;;, till the rock Forged to cement, is moulded, day and night. Now all is hushed in darkness monotone, I Until To-day awakens, clear and lone, O, greet her; for To-day, in very aeli, Bee Sons to me®, & salliag a««k «fiknown. Rome and Venetia pass, their t:cry told; Passing, our clamorous night of iron and gold; To-day —O wavering, uncharted flood! — What shores beyond the final verge unfold? Spread sail and dare! For us the, violent breath Of changing hours, the golden isles of faith; Long days of turmoil, nights without a, star; And, for each soul, the last adventure —Death, Which makes the meanest son of man sublime, And.lifts him, like a god, beyond our clisaei ; -- -~