POETRY OLD AND NEW.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13725, 15 April 1908, Page 9

POETRY OLD AND NEW.

GIVE A MAN! GIVE a man a horse he can ride, Give a man a boat he can sail: And his rank and his wealth, his strength and health. On sea nor shore shall fail. Give a man a pipe he can smoke. Give a man a book he can read; And his home is bright with a calm delight, Though the room be poor indeed. Give a man a girl he can love. As I, O my Love, love thee; And his heart is great with the pulse of Fate, At home, on land, on sea. JAMES THOMPSON. . HONOUR OF THE TOWN. Through the water tearing Forty leagues a day, Battleships are bearing Rapidly onr way; .Soldiers are preparing For a journey west Men of deeds ami daring Soon will be our guests. High old times are coming. Pageant and parade, Sound of fifo and drumming, Fun for youth and maid. Jackie will go slumming With the soldier boyCity will be humming. Brimming o'er with joy. We'll be military. Naval, too, as well, Taps bo necessary For a curfew knell. Signals will each fairy Learn to wig and wagAnnabel and Mary Following the flag. Ptingle tip your money. Dollar or a dime; Hoarding isn't funny Give the hoys a time. Tap the milk and honey: Hide your grouchy frown; Let vour smile be sunnyHonour of the town. W.J.W. on the visit of the American fleet to San Francisco. BRYAN TO ROOSEVELT. Dear Theodore, long years ago A youthful politician. At many things I took a throw To work out my ambition. I scored the gleaming cross of gold, And silver advocated— But no one listened to my scold. So I was relegated. In fact, on silver voters twice Gave me an awful clouting: Yon bet they'll never do it thrice On that same line of spouting. Then ownership by Government I advocated boldly; To zero all my prospects went, I was received so coldly. Meanwhile, dear Theodore, you had Been working out the problem— You made the financiers yonr fad. Your blows began to wobble 'em. Keen eyed. I watched your policy, -To see how people took it; The thing looked pretty good to me, So 1 resoivs i to hook it. What could I do? My own I'd tried And was completely bested; 'Twas kind of you. then, to provide A platform made and tested. So, many thanks, dear Theodore, For all the kind suggestions; Just hear me make a campaign roar On vital public questions. W.J.W.