Some Poems.

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11435, 3 February 1923, Page 13

Some Poems.

Original and Selected.

STAFF BY A GOVERNESS IN THE COUNTRY I’m frightened of the laundress and I m frightened of the cook, I’m frightened of the kitchenmaid (she gave me such a look!) I wonder how the Lord who made The pantryman! and parlourmaid. The nurserymaid and chambermaid who brings the momma tea The chauffeur and the stableman, The gardener and the dairyman, The woodman and the poultryman, The man they call the handy-man, Could pause from noble works like these —to think of making me! —"AUSSIE.” IN THE WOODS The dew-drenched woods, where violets hide, - And sweetest 6ong-hirds break the spell Of silence, "mYtlsi; the branches wide, That shade the nooks where fairies dwell. Here, in this shadowy cool retreat, When sunset tints the sky above, O'er the green moss with flying feet. To me will come my own true Love, And hind-songs will not he more sweet Than the rapturous words he'll say to me, And ’neath the swinging branches old We’ll plight our vows in eostacy. -LAURA JEAN VICTORY. SONG OF EDUCATION The people they left the land, the land. But they went on working hard; And the village green that had got mi*, laid Turned up in the squire’s back yard. But twenty men of us all got work On a bit of hie motorcar. And we all became, with the world’s acclaim, The marvellous mugs we are. Chora*-, The marvellous mugs, miraculous mugs. The mystical mugs wo are. ’ O. K. CHESTERTON. THE TRINKETS The standing whirlpool of the stars, The wheel of all the world j Is the ring on Our Lady’s finger, With the suns and moons empearled. With stare for stones to please her, Who sits playing with her rings; With the great heart that a woman has And the love for little things. O. K. CHESTERTON. THE BALCONY Attuned, they mused and spoke— Small talk of this and that—■ And. so, between them creav A fellowship that drew Until they, dreaming, sat In a silence neither broke. Passion was still, and all That fretted passed remote; And. in that moment’s poise, Life’s bruit, and love's noise, Seemed but the distant rote Of a far sea’s rise and fall. On Elastgrove hill a pane Flashed to the wesl’ring sun*. And with that herald flame The peace of evening came; — Then life shook sands that run For a world called both again. * Now is that balcony so still Only the heart’s own beat Moves in that quiet air And the silence there; Only the bitter-sweet Of tears that fill— And the slow, sad feet of time. —SIARY GILMORE', in "Aussie.”

HARD up You’re not hard up when your purse is flat. And your trousers frayed like an oid door mat; You're not hard up when your bills fall due, And you haven’t a dollar to see you through; Y'ou’re not hard up till you see the day That you haven’t a cheerful word to say; You're not hard up when your coin is gone. And you whistle a tune as you journey on; You may walk the streets while others ride, And your pockets have naught hut your hands inside; That’s not being broke, you may depend. For you’re not hard: up while you have a frieni. But you are hard up, in every avay If you haven’t a cheerful avord to say: If nothing on earth appeals to you. And you can’t see charm in the skies of blue, And you are hard up if you’ve reached the ond And can say in truth that you have no friend. -BUZZ SAW. A RENDEZVOUS Up leaping through the years I came. Fresh like a bather from the eea; I held a rendezvous avith life,And life was calling me. A thousand days and nights I sped O’er hills and verdant valleys through; The doe lent, me her fleeting step. The avind sped me anew. The sparkling jewels of my eyes A thousand sunsets gave to me; Lithe body fashioned by a wave In some forgotten 6ea. Before me ever like a star Life’s undiscerning purpose lay. When lo! at last I closed avith it And burst upon the day! Nor drums nor songs I heeded then. My soul the secret flashed upon, And avith the millions I marched out Into Armageddon. ROY BLAKE. January 29th, 1923. AN ANGORA DITTY There was a little Turk, And he had a little gun; Quoth he, "I’m out for slaughter And I’ll make the devils run. This monotony upsets me, things are getting rather calm, And another little avar won’t do me any harm.” -LESAREF. WISDOM Grieve not that my love is dead. Not ’till its death knew I That nothing fairer ever sped Irrea'ocably bv. Grieve not that,my loa-e is dead. How else would I have known That there’s no fire that flames so red And leaves so cold a stone! . "LIFE,” New York. APPRAISAL He is vicious, hard and vain, Always striking some new .pose, Ugly, lying, cracked, of brain— So, at least, say a.ll his foes. He is virtue’s gloaming light, Generous with his dia’idends, Handsome, truthful, very bright, So, at least, say all his friends. This' is all you ever can Learn of any mortal man. "LIFE,” Neav York.