LINES WRITTEN ON NGAPARA.

Otago Witness, Issue 1502, 28 August 1880, Page 24

LINES WRITTEN ON NGAPARA.

-Awake my Muse, nor slumbering longer lay, Come aid me with thy mighty sublime powers ; 'To sing to-day in graceful roundelay, And chase the sadness of the passing hours. No love lorn tale will be our subject now, As such does not befit the time or place ; More endearing far shall be our song, I trow, The beauteous charms of our home to trace. Think not my Muse, I would have sought thine aid, As has been done by many men ere now, To.sing of aught that would thine art degrade. That noble art, to which the haughtiest bow. No, no, far be from me so vile a thought ; If I did deign to bend myself so low, It would ray mind with bitterness have fraught, And cause me with indignant shame to glow. Yes, sweet Ngapara, nestled 'midst the hills, On thee much praise is lavished not in vain ; Along thy vale quite free from care or ills, Doth live in peace, the poor, hard toiling swain. Here may the weary wanderer find a home, And dream of hope, of comfort, and of joy, JNor feel again the least desire to roam, Secure from all that could his mind annoy. In sooth this is a lovely place to live, As man could find in this dull world of care ; The fragrant flowers that bloom spontaneous give A charming sweetness to the cooling air. The purling stream that meanders through the dale, With pleasing sounds the listener's ears doth greet, Tae feathered songsters, scattered o'er the vale, Blending their notes in melody SO sweet. Thy men are brave, thy maiden's fair I ween, As can be seen this circling earth around, For modest beauty, grace, and gentle mien, They are in truth most justly renowned. Could those who read these truthful lines but see The lovely dears, so modest, meek, and kind, They would of praise than me more lavish be, Or else to beauty's charms would they be blind. Along thy streams in summer tune of year, With pleasure have I rambled many a time, My mina enrapt in thoughts to me most dear, Of happy days spent in a distant clime. Or in the evening's gloom at close of day, Have list, while silence reigned supreme around, To the gay chant of some melodious lay Borne on the breeze with sweet and dulcet sound. Oh lovely place, it would be vain to try To sing about thy many beauteous charms, An abler pen than mine it would employ, To tell of mansions, cottages and farms, And other works of nature and of art, That do embellish thy elysian bowers. To assign to each its own delightful part, Would take some one of high poetic powers. Alaa, alas, that it should be decteed That I should leave the spot I love ho well, The fate is hard and undeserved indeed, That forces me 'mid other scenes to dwell. But so it is, and soon I'll have to leave This place, to me so very, very dear, It will my heart with sorrow sorely grieve To think on it for many a coming year. Farewell Ngapara, loveiiest of thy kind, I'll have to part with thee for evermore ; Thy like elsewhere I do not hope to find, And long indeed shall I thy loss deplore. Go where I will I'll treasure thoughts of thee, My love for thee shall always be the same, My fondest wish is that I'll live to see Thee rise to wealth, to honour, and to fame. Ngapara August, 1880. P- N.