POETRY, OLD AND NEW.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14017, 24 March 1909, Page 9

POETRY, OLD AND NEW.

'' ;BLUE MONDAY. < Look a-here, Mary-Ami, , . You stop your complaining; .1 know it'* a. rainin' As hard as it ran. But what, are you gainin'? Is't th' Lord you are trainin'? ! Well— ain't' explaining' .'■■'■■-, ; !-■', His reasons to Man! I Look a-here, Emmy Lou, 1 ;. I know it's a Monday, , ' But in six days comes Sunnay, So quit -.belli' blue I '.You'd think by the whinin' There warn't no bright linin'. < ! Wasn't yesterday shinin'? '■'. ■ ■ Ain't .Zeb courtin' you? . . v Life's chock full o' Sundays . To make up for, Mondays! / Emmy Lou—Mary Ann, ; Yes, you smile while you can 1 Jkan Dwight Fhaskhk, 'in Harper's. j A BACHELOR'S LAMENT. > ' --■> The sterling countenance of Jane ; Was' vigorously planned,- though plain This, and a soul of soaring bent, ? V . With deep, reluctance ,L forewent, ' Feeling that Providence would mate her ',-•,.-To on*, whoso, moral needs were greater. With matchless beauty Kate - combined •■ . A flippant quality of mind, • Unfitted ever to respect , ■ My loftier flights ~of intellect Mere comeliness in any lass ■■..>,/,-. :* la vanitatum vanitas. I will allow this tear to tell . \ • ' How fond I was of Christobel; .'. For she was beautiful, though good, And- suited to my ever}- mood. . Then came that fateful parish tea,. ' .'; ■_'■'■■ When the fell Curate ousted me, ' Yet Angels, in my dreams, have said, :'■ " Clarence, there waits for thee a maid (Whose pleasing qualities are blent With a substantial settlement) ; Mora able to discriminate Than Jane or Christobel or Kate." , " ,;■'. li. C. Hayes. TO MY PIPE. •,' ! . ■ • I. '„' '' '• '■ Oh,, trusty friend of ail the years, When tunes were bard, and life was sad, You charmed' away my doubts and fears, ; - ■■'..-,' You were the only friend I had. . What if your bowl be black and charred, -, | . What if your stem bo bitten through, When life was sad, and times were hard, '"■ I always could rely on you. ■ - .' 11. ' • Oh, staunchetit* friend of many a day, Through ups and downs we've been together, And do you recollect (he way '._.■. I used to'clean you with a feather? What if your pristine beauty's marred, Your tender youth be long since past? .".'.-. I lovo you though you're crack'd . and scarred, I'll love you to the very last. . ' 111. • ' ' . Ah, friend of mine, it gives me pain To think that soon we two must part, What castles we have built in Spain, ~--■' What dreams have bound you to my heart! But now, alas! you're growing old, Another ne'er can be like you,.';.: My creamy meerschaum leaves me cold, -, I do not care for friendships new. . .Envoi. '•■■', ..)■: What friend of all the chequered years Would never fail'me, never tire. Would soothe like you my doubts and fears? My faithful pipe, my ancient briar. ' UnsiTLA Twenty, in Pall Mall Magazine. ■ THE LAST MAN. All worldly shapes shall melt in gloom, The Sun himself must die. Before this mortal shall assume It.B Immortality 1 -/«.*-, I saw a vision in my sleep That gave my spirit strength to sweep ■ ; '■ , ~ Adown "the gulf of Time! ' I saw tho last of.,human..-mould That snail Creation's death behold, . * As Adam saw her prime ! The Sun's eye had a sickly glare, The Earth with age was wan. The skeletons of nations were Around that, lonely man ! Some had expired in 'tight—the brands Still rusted in their bony hands; . In plague and ';famine..some ! • . - Earth's cities hud no sound nor tread, And ships were drifting with the dead To shores where all was dumb! Yet, prophet-like, that lone one stood. With dauntless words and high, That shook, the sere leaves from the wood As if a storm- passed by, Saying, " We are twins in death, proud Sun I Thy luce is cold, thy race is run, 'Tis Mercy bids thee go; - '.'";'■ For thou ten thousand thousand years Hast seen the tide of human tears. That shall no longer flow. ( "Even lam weary in yon skies , V To watch thy" fading fire; Test, of all sumless agonies, ' " Behold not me expire! My lips that speak thy dirge of death— • , , Their rounded gasp and gargling breath To sea thou shalt not boast . The eclipse of Nature spreads my pall— The majesty of Darkness shall ' '; ' Receive my parting ghost! ; :. " This spirit shall return to Him That gave its heavenly spark; Yet think not. Sun, it shall be dim . When, thou thyself art dark! No! It shall live again, and shine ,' . In bliss unknown to beams of thine, By Him recalled to breath \ Who captive led captivity, ' ( : - Who robbed the, grave of Victory,; , > ..." And took the sting from Death 1 " Go, Sun. while Mercy holds me up. - : . ' ; On Nature's awful waste, To drink this last and bitter cup * '■- -Of grief ' that, man shall taste— :.., ; Go, tell the night that hides thy face , „ Thou saw'st the last of Adam's race f, On Earth's sepulchral clod . ■ The . darkening • universe defy. ~,:.:. - To quench his Immortality " ' - Or ' shake his trust in God!" •<< - ' ~ T. Campbell. "