Select Poetry.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 285, 14 July 1877, Page 3

Select Poetry.

TO A FLTIIT. Without any feeling yourself, love, No feeling to others you show ; One smile from a true-hearted girl, love, Is worth all your heart can bestow. We've flirted, and spooned, and all that, love. And been tickle, and foolish, and false ; And have whirled in a vortex of joy, love, As though lost in the maze of a waltz. But don't think for a moment your wiles, love, Have ever entrammelled my heart; It's too true and too steeled, I opine, love, For such follies to cause it a smart. We each know we've nothing to gain, love, We e ch know we've nothing to lose ; When we each know each other so well, love, Why shouldn't we flirt if we choose ? We've been fools for a while on life's stage, love, Like many far wiser than we ; Yet in spite of the sneers of our friends, love, We've acted our parts to a T ; Yet now that it's over and done, love— For the game was too foolish to last— We can each view the scenes that are o'er, love, As though they were dreams of the past. We may both be the wiser for this, love, If not of all feeling bereft, It may teach us a true honest life, love,

Is worth all the follies we've left. This truth it can teach us, at least, love, Which we each can apply to our heart, And should treasure it there as a gem, love, Ere again we enact such a part—» That 'tis well to be honest and just, love, That 'tis well to be loving and true That 'tis best to be staunch to an old love, Than always at play with a new. GENTLEMAN JOHN.