A BREAK OF WAS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2260, 24 June 1897, Page 41

A BREAK OF WAS.

I closed mine eyes, and passed into a dream That barred the wakeful memories of the past ] The pangs of wasted life that o'er me stole ; Pond loves and follies of the sinful soul, O'er which I brooded ere was sleeping fast. Methought the sun was weary in his course, Had all his splendours yielded in the strife ; And I heard the groans and saw men dying ; The young, the strong, and brave, outstretched lying— A plague of death, a spoil of human life. Crowds, like "hell fiends, in frenzy fleeing outward From, cities shattered naked by the shell ; No revelry, no frolics of the feast, But, unutterable aa the ravaging of beast, ■ Besieged by the pestilence of a hell ! The wealth, pride, and greatness of vast empires Their supremacy, vainglorious, would declare j The bright, bounteous harvesting of labour Laid barreu, stricken waste, in the endeavour — All banished in grim horror and despair. I Baw within xny dream this fair brave land, Once so glorious and powerful on earth, And joyous o'er triumphs of glory, Now victims, down-fallen, and* gory ; A nation bereaved of its worth. Beware, my brothers, rulers of the State, The blood of despot is no longer great ; In this new era it is ours to shine In aims more humane, and in love benign j And though the old wounds bleed, There is a higher cause, Upheld by righteous law 3— • A reign of peace, of noble deed, Is mightier far Than armaments of war. This is our choice, And in united voice We must lead And symbolise the union of the race, To which old feuds must yield apace. June, 1897. —Colonist.