VERSE OLD AND NEW

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16376, 25 June 1927, Page 9

VERSE OLD AND NEW

RECOMPENCE. I have come far along Life's dusty highway, I'arched with the heat—half-blinded by the glare. Vet —there were shady nooks, where I have rested, And sometimes I have found sweet violets there. Passion and Pain have wrung me; I have savoured Dust of defeat; Grief's giey sterilities,' Vet —there were those whose kindness eased my burden; Dulled my keen scorn of life's futilities.

Dawn has caressed me with her rosy lingers; Sunlight has sent me, lusty, to the fray; I have drunk deep of peace at purple twilight; Roamed fancy's kingdom 'neath the moon 's soft ray. Finding that loss is earnest of redemption.

Hope crucified, the seed of joy complete,, Fearless L'll tread the unknown way lie fore jne. Knowing that night brings rest to weary feet. —Marion L. Jackson. THE FLAPPEITvOTE. When all the world was young dear. And not a joke was flat, When beer within, the bung, dear. Was strong —and cheap at that, I never thought the sun, dear, Would see you with a vote When von were twenty-one, dear — My child, on whom 1 dote. But Baldwin says you can, dear, Be put upon the rolls, And mould the nation's plan, dear, By" going to the polls; And, after all,, why not, dear? Give me familiar ills! You've ruled me from the cot, dear, I've always paid your bills! —Hamilton Duty, in London Daily Express. A BEETHOVEN RECORD. The disc revolves, the waves of sound uprise. The swelling rhythmic chords break cool and sweet. And visions pass 'before my closing eyes .... Two great hands poise above the keys, and beat in JTeuzy, till the room is filled with sound. A massive head is turned, and bends to hear The music of those notes his lingers pound .... Deaf. Deaf. The proud head sinks, and one slow tear Slips down the Master's cheek . . . Beethoven weeps ... Tho disc revolves, the last, deep note is played; The record laid aside, Beethoven sleeps Never to hear the music that he made . . . A whirling disc, a golden flood of sound, Bring us the joys the Master never found. —Margaret Marshall.