ODE TO HOPE.

Otago Witness, Issue 1910, 29 June 1888, Page 29

ODE TO HOPE.

Come, witching $iren' with the' golden hair, , Whose sunny beam ne'er suffers an eclipse, >■■<> With whose blue eyes no sapphire could compare, . '.- Who smlleat ever with thy curved, lips ; , Thy .tender, flatt'iles have deceiv'd me oft, ' ° Yet, ah 1 : lhou i\rt so dear'l cannot break ■ ' With thee, nor would I live without the soft Voice that can such enchanting music makei> I 'will forget thy broken vows I I pine „". To listen to' thy thrilling tones once more 1 Then charm my list'ning ears, oh I Hope divine, With all the fairy taleo thou told'st of yore I , . t Bint* me the.songs of youthful ecstasy s ■ Tljou trlllodflt in the dayi of long ago, - Whto oVr.the dfstanfc'peaks shonorosily . A soften'd- radiance that-disguised their snow!— Leave not now, when falt'ringare my feet) ; And sore I need thy cheering voice and eye ; ' Lut me but hear thy rippling laughter sweet, And never will Iheed the lo'w'nng sky I - Whisper in tones well tutor'd to deceiye; " Ye.t breast this hill— thou'lt greet a charming : vale"— ' ' >• ' •• '< I will believe thee— yea, I will believe— ' • Looking on thee, who could misdoubt thy tale ? From childhood to thy gauzy skirts I've clung, , And'shall I not forgiye thy coquetries J* - Theisangulne prattle of thy ready tongue ?• The.mock<ng magic of thine ardent eyes ? • How thou hast cheer'dmy road, like mother fond, ' Striving to make her little one forget ' Ills weary feet by pointing him beyond - ' To some soft arbour .on the hillside set ; , .- " , - "I here (hall you rest," she whispers coaxlngly, • , "And drink your fill from a cool stream hardbji ; Ana when refreshed shall sport on daisied lea, Ot ohose the argent- winged butterfly 1 " ' [ : When, on a nearer view, the arbour soft ■ „ , . i ' Fades, and but leaves a cheerless prickly' waste ;, Ihe mother gaily cries, ' ' Come, mount aloft * ' ' Tp yonder grove of apple trees and taste r '\ - ' 9'heir juicy fruitl " The urchin glad obeys, Ajid so is lur'd.unto his journ^v.'s* end j ' l.'en so, fair Hope, hast thou from earliest days Beguird-me.yet who would not calli thee friend? Then let me cling unto, thy skirts anew,,, v » , With childish fond oredulity,.and plead For; a' kind glance from tho*e rare orbs of blue,' ' Without whose light Life were a waato'inde*dt Moeraki, June !5. - ' , — Wtch Blml' ■