VERSE, OLD AND NEW.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume L, Issue 16545, 27 September 1924, Page 9

VERSE, OLD AND NEW.

MOUNT .'EVEREST —UNCON ' QUERED.

There stands the giant, grim, and stern, and old, As he has stood for centuries untold; The petty, squabbling world left far

below, He towers aloft amidst eternal snow

Against this monarch of the mounts, ' whose breath Is ice-wind, keen, and sharp, and chill as death, Poor puny man, fresh laurels to attain, Has hurled himself, and’ hurled himself in vain. V.

In vain, vet not in vain, though in the strife, The mountain conquered; took his toll of life, Those heroes’ names shall echo through the land, As long' as Everest himself shall stand.

When Everest struck his blow two climbers died, Two gallant souls sleep on the mountain. side; The wind wails over them, now loud, now low, The mountain’s tribute to a fallen foe. ,

There strands the giant, grim, and stern, and old, As he has stood for centuries untold; Unfettered, free, unbowed to human will, Mount Everest remains uuconquered still. —W.H. Te Arai. SOME DAY. Some day we meant to travel far, Before the glow of noontide failed; But yonder shines the evening star, And .vet —-we have not sailed.

We loitered idly on the quay, Watching the tides that ebb and flow; We saw the boats set forth to sea; And yet—we did liot go.

Magic of many tales was brought By travellers and the travelling vfiiul — Now worlds of deed, new worlds of thought; And yet—we stayed behind. And still the dream and still the call: The boats recede, with parting hail; 'Shadows of coming night-time fall; And yet—we do not sail. —Arthur L. Salmon. ‘...JOSEPH CONRAD. Where\landfall and departure .are as one, Where the voyage ended is the voyage begun, He wakes, to face ill truth The greater venture of u fuller Youth.

0 master-mariner of.oui’ secret seas, xTlic'ir murk and tempest and obscuri-

ties, Pass to victorious quest ,i Of eliartlcss oceans, fairest ports of :. rest. - i Lover of ships and men, whose purpose won, Permits that England claims thee as • her son,i Sot. sail and steer once more Eor further landfall on some nobler shore. —Arthur L. Salmon. GARDEN GRACE. You may bring your care to a garden, You may bring your grief, The garden knows the touch of frost, And the falling leaf. , The garden knows the beating wind And the bitter rain. You may come to a garden With vour pain. ! ■ / ■■' ; V But when you come to a garden You will always lind Something that you have carried Is left behind. For there is hope in a garden, And every garden knows There is a time for iris, And hour for the rose. Louise'Driscoll. THE DESIRE. Give me no mansions ivory white Nor palaces of pearl and gold; Givc mo a child for all delight Just four years old. Give me no wings of rosy shine Nor snowy raiment, fold on fold. Give me a little boy all mine, Just four years old. Y" * Give me no-gold and starry crown Nor harps, nor palm branches unrolled; Give me ,n nestling head' of brown, Just four years old. GiVe me a cheek that’s like the peach, Two arms to clasp me from the cold; And all my heaven \s within my reach. Just four years old.

Dear God, You, give me from Your skies A little paradise to hold, As Mary once her Paradise, Just four years old. —Ka thori ne Tyma n.