AT THE SIGN OF THE LYRE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1202, 15 March 1895, Page 11

AT THE SIGN OF THE LYRE.

MR DAVIDSON’S POEMS. A new volume entitled “Ballads and Songs,”; by Mr John Davidson, consisting mostly of strong and rugged yerse, lias; just been issued. All or ’nearly- all the poems are violent and more or less discordant as well as powerful. In a few pieces only the poet has tamed his genius and striven to give his lines a more restful charm. One of these instances is a little poem entitled “The Romney Marsh”:— As I went down tp Dymchurch Wall, I heard the South sing o’er the land ; I saw the yellow sunlight fall On knolis where Norman churches stand. And ringing shrilly, taut and lithe, Within the wind a core of sound, The wire from Romney town to Hythe Alone its airy journey wound. •' "" .. A veil of purple vapour flowed And trailed its fringe along the Straits ; The upper air like sapphire glowed ; And roses filled Heaven’s central gates. Masts in the offing wagged their tops ; The swinging waves pealed on the shore ; The saffron beach, all diamond drops And beads of surge, prolonged the roar. As I came from Dymchurch Wall, I saw above the Down’s low crest The crimson bands of sunset fall, Flicker and fade from out the west. Night sank ; like flakes of silver fire The stars in one great shower came down ; Shrill blew the wind ; and shrill the wire Rang out from Hythe to Ronmey town. The darkly shining salt sea drops Streamed as to the waves clashed on the shore; . The beach, with all its organ stops Pealing again, prolonged the roar. TO THE SOUTHERN CROSS. As in the north the Polar Star Shines constant o’er the Arctic waste, Where rude Boreas e’er doth war And bluster in his angry haste, So thou, bright beacon, placed above, Dost beam upon the southern wave, An emblem fair of Heaven’s Jove, Where Auster’s frantic crew doth rave. True symbol of that wond’rous sign That glittered in Ausonian skies, And led of yore great Constantine Through faith to glorious victories, ' Thou leadest by thy kindly light The storm-tossed seaman, in his barque, As some celestial spirit bright Heav’ns pilgrim onward through the dark. Thou leadest him o’er depths profound Of ocean lashed by furious storm, Where wild the sea-bird’s shrieks resound? And loom in giant for in?

And though Cimmerian darkness fall Across the faithful helmsman’s gaze, And the loud thunder-crash appal His senses with fierce lightning blaze, And though on mountain billow toss’d His fragile barque ; or driven low In gaping chasm, where all seems lost Amid the deep sea’s phosphor glow, Pond hope ne’er leaves his Christian breast. It sheds a mystic halo round, Bright circling o’er the foamy crest, Dispelling shades howe’er profound. And though the storm-fiends shriek and hiss, ~ Whilst lurid fires of nether Hell Dance in that midnight’s black abyss, The Christian’s trust they cannot quell. He lifts his weary eyes on high ; He sees betwixt the riven gloom Thy form shine beauteous in the sky, A pilot from impending doom. Around thee, Cross ! Redemption’s sign! Seraphic forms he doth behold, Commissioned bjy Command Divine His fearful spirit to uphold. X ■■ ..'V 1 \ Enrobed in white an angel band Stand guardians in;thy hallowed sheen, Who waving high theis magic wand Enfold in light the awful scene. And while his gaze is fixed aloft, A strain harmonious greets his. ears . (iEolian harps ne’er struck so soft), • That quells the tempest and his fears. Now, rag-ing billows sink to sleep ; The howling winds breathe soft and low ; 4 *; - ~ Now, lovely peace reigns on the deep, For God doth love and mercy show. A brighter hope his bosom warms ; The helm he grasps; with steadier hand ; He heeds no longer dire alarms ; But bends his certain course to land. J; L. Powek. Te Arai, Gisborne.