THE TOI-TOI IN CHURCH.

Otago Witness, Issue 2106, 5 July 1894, Page 39

THE TOI-TOI IN CHURCH.

Captive from the wilderness, Withering in dumb distress, Tribute torn from margins green, Weary, listless, valley queen, Shut from Summer's life and stir, Bound, a golden prisoner, Toi-fcoi, fay forlorn, Droop thou must this sultry morn. Dainty gipsy, dancer light, Sad thy lot is, sore thy plight, Stripped of thy sweet woodland state This dull fane to decorate. Piteous thy case : ah ! where Stay the maids, thy sisters fair ? Linger they to mourn thy fate Near some stream inviolate, By green-mantled cliffs the head Of still vales unvisited P There for tresses reft sway They, methinks", must eigh to-day, While the giant grasses dip, Kissing quick the water's lip, Where the f antail's quaint advance Zig-zags on in airy dance ; Where the dragon-fly at noon Loiters o'er the brown lagoon, And the pine's sharp, spicy scent With strange odours wild is blent, And tall ferns, with bending wings, Listen while the tui sings. Laughing beauty of the hill?, Lady-love of winds and rills, Ensign of the hidden stream?, Tossed by breezes, lit by gleams, Thee in duress I behold Like some prisoned nun of old, Virgin-tribute hurried hither, In the house of God to wither. Golden-plum6d Amazon, Are thy captains dead and gone ?— Henchmen ranged in mimic rank, Green militia of thy bank. Where are now the trusty swords Round tbee held by valiant lords, Shaking blades of stiff eat flax P While; to hedge thee 'gainst attacks, Ballrush pikemen massed below, Knee-deep in the oozy flow, Bristling fiercely, scorning fears, Raised their velvet-guarded spears. Are thy rustic warriors fled, All thy champions captive led P Princess haled in bonds from far, What to thee are creeds that jar ? Maiden of the shining hair, Tell me who thy gallants were ? Many were thy loves, one guesses, Damsel of the gleaming tresses. Did convolvuluses pale Ring thee round with tendrils frail, Girdle thee with flowers light, Blush with love and blanch with fright P Thee did subject waters greet Hopeless, far beneath thy feet ? Did the koromiko strew Blooms of white and purple too ? Or did some pert vagrant bird, Spying thee by breezes stirred, Flutter down to dance with thee, Piping shrill triumphant glee P Past is all thy woodland mirth, Faint, remote, the song of earth ; Pale the lustre of thy hair Fading princess fettered there, Bright Andromeda on high, Manacled, condemned to die, Pitied not by sound divines, Or these worthy Philistines, Yet as wafts of coolness blow From steep ancient alps of snow Into vales that gasping lie Mute beneath a brazen sky, So, like breath of freshness free, Speeds the fancy stirred by thee, And, sad beauty as thou art, Thanks be thine from one man's heart. W. P. Reeves.

LOVE AND DEATH. O Love for long did fly from me And I did flee from Death, 0 Love, I burn, I die for thee I I cried with anguished breath. 0 Death, I fear thy onward foot I 0 Love, I burn, I die I 0 Death, withhold thy dread pursuit I 0 Love, no longer fly ! Then Love no longer fled, but turned And stabbed me through and through ; And Death, whom I with fear had spurned, Did all my pains subdue. June 1894. — Wm. Gay.