VERSE OLD AND NEW.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 16021, 6 January 1923, Page 8

VERSE OLD AND NEW.

THE REPRESENTATIVE

"I represent tho working man," The Labor leader said, . "And I have got a simple plan To bring tilings to a head. ! No tax for those who own my sway I But everybody else must pay."

"But if you sway these toiling souls,"' I murmured, "this connotes That you can bring: them to the polls Since most of them have votes. And yet your strength, you must con'fess, Works out» at something rather less."

"Alas! that I must own," he cries, "That working men to-day Are often lured bv specious lies To vote the other way. Although my schemes are simply great These dullards will not take the bait.'

"But how," I asked, "can you pretend To speak for such as those? Jliey are'not followers, my friend J" ' They moro resemble foes." , He said, "I end where I began. I represent the working man!" •«• ' •

REMEMBRANCE. We spoke of life, of death; then some one said, "How quickly we're forgotten, .when we'ro dead; Things move so fast these days, there seems to be No time for grief or memory. We spend our little round of days, and then are gone As if we'd never lived at all—the world goes on." Something which never sleeps A silence fell; across the garden close Come the sweet incense of gome fragrant rose, The love-note of some nesting bird, within mo stirred ; Stronger than death itself to bridge the years . . . Beneath my eyelids sudden dew of tears — Oh, love of mine, long dead, forget who will— I hunger yet. —how much you matter still! —Malicia Demons. • • • FRIENDSHIP. Because you stayed mv footsteps lest they fall, And shared my faring till the journey's .end, I call you by the grandest name of all— The name of Friend! '

Because not only on tho upward way i'our help, your comradeship, wei mino to claim; But on the harder road of everyday You earn that noblest name.

Not lover! Nay! Love had her hour supreme . Of flame and wonder, on the starlit height; But on the level road that knows no gleam She plumed her wings foi* flight.

And friendship has no.wings: so nearer drew The subtle comfort of her touch to lend.

Liac ]ms no barb to wound me' since I k'l ,•'..• '

I'll* '...noti.'.sp o! a Friend!

—Emily Bullock

HARBORS.

The harbors of the world are quick with life: Ships, with proud foreheads,.threatening the stars, Ships that know storm; and ships that know the roads To distant docks in distant lands; ■ strange ships With, stranger names, names hot with \\yria and spice Or cool!'with virgin fortresses of snow. This were Acvc.iture! Blindly to em-

bark And mount the blue back of the stallion, Sea. ft Mieatfi the flaj; of various Romance. Ibis were Eeiipnt O' so I dreamed at once. • • . , .', -, But ii' >y\. • . but n'o\v . . . ~■'. ~* A hand upon the latch, The brown, and shining tablo laid for tea, ',' '.'..,,. , : '.!'; The driftwood logs that burn both salt a lid sun • And kiss ; the old blue china, piece by piece, • • ' ' - • To braver lustre. Dusk, and rising winds That blow the adolescent moon-flame high, The cynic clock that, briefly points to five; And you, with quiet' eyes intent, on mine. Half-sentences, low phrases, broken off Like colored silks; and lovely silences. Here is,.the Harbor of the True Romance And liere more leagues of unexplored delight Than ever ship weighed anchor for. And here,' Within these walls, within two eager hearts; i ■ •■' ;; '" " Dear passports to Adventure, signed and sealed. ' ••.'-'••' —Faith .Baldwin; • ' : • "'• in November Good Housekeeping.