The North Pole.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 841, 22 July 1879, Page 2

The North Pole.

Over the silent waste, Burns the red midnight sun ; Howls the lone famished bear, . At intervals horrific, Breaking the awful calm, Of the Polar Queen's realm, With the growlings of hunger. Still, since Creation's morn : Still, since the hymning stars, Sung in their orbits, The strains of deliverance. Everlastingly silent, Everlastingly eoholess, Is the North Pole for ever. There at her fettered feet, Frost-fettered ; ice-manacled, Rearing their grim glories, Proudly, mightily the ice-berg, The drift, floe, and hummock, 'Here are framed ; here the glacier, Gathers his ponderous front, Ere launching his terrors. Everlasting silences, Here nurse the great whales ; The tides here leave their cradles, Here return they to slumber ; Hither come the wearied winds, From their circuitous pathways ; Hither roll the currents of Oceans, . As to the heart of their system, For rest and fresh impulse. Here lights the Auroral crown, Her myriad flambeaux ; Flames the Polar heaven, With her wonderful beauty : And here mid the Silences, The needle magnetic — Trembling in sentiousness, Trembling mid hope and fear, Trembling with Truth's high gift, Sinks here in perfect rest, On the bosom of Silence. Oh 1 wild and weird North Pole ! Thou treasure-house of mysteries, Desire of many a soul, Embalmed in world-wide histories, Is to explore thy hidden myths ; And pierce thy secrets old, To lay thy wonders bare before The eye of Science bold. It is no vain excitement, No fevered dream of gain, That leads their poor inducements, To dare these deeds of pain ; No, 'tis a higher feeling, A holier, grander hope, Which nerves brave men for danger, And fits them still to cope With hunger, cold, and losses — 'Tis their calm, firm desire, To see Creation's working ; To this they all aspire : To comprehend th' Eternal In dealings with each soul — A reason this, our bravest Seek to reach the North Pole. Note.— Suggested by Lieut. Maury's work on the "Sea." . . George H. Wilson. Gisborne,