VERSE, OLD AND NEW

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16873, 9 February 1929, Page 9

VERSE, OLD AND NEW

NEW YEAR. WISHES. Why do I ask that, ’29 Should be benign. When T 8 was just, a beast (To say the least), And ’27 left; lil tle doubt My luck was out, And all I got from ’2d Was cul'i's and kicks. Nor did 1 very greatly thrive .1 n ’2d. And till the rest were just as rotten, And best forgotten— Why, then, should ’29 upset The etiquette? I really cannot say—but still 1 hope it will. —J.M.. in London Observer. TO-MORROW. To-morrow I will see Ilie great sun rise, Wide-winged and sceptred -with irradiate gold; , > To-morrow t will watch the gates unfold Tin'll shall admit me to new earth, new skies; Hands shall no more be listless nor mine eyes Drowsing to slumber, but with joy untold 1 will encompass all that I can hold, And give my life to passionate enterprise— To-morrow. But the siren-calls delay; Old. longing lures to labyrinths of dream. Shunning their task, my hands hang at my side Or drop dead flowers into a loitering .stream, To-morrow I will arise. Yet I abide Watching the dying sunsets, day by day. —Arthur L. .Salmon, CONTENT. A soul serene, a tranquil mind. These jewels are in vessels rare, But worldly wealth is dross confined In rough-east pots of earthenware. Be mine the grace to live content, Nor tread the shadowed path of greed. And ’ere my tale of years be spent Forget my own in others’ need. —A. E. Williams.

MARTHA. 11 (fod rest her soul!” they said; but i, who knew ) The willing service those clasped hands had given, Thought she might have more joy in God’s dear heaven If He would find her still some task to do. —Nancy Ha y, el ton. FROM DAY TO DAY. Let me, to-day do something that shall lighten The weight of crosses from some weaker back: Let. mo be blest to-day, that I may brighten To silver-lining- clouds now shining black. Dear God, that 1 may stay the tongue of scandal, ;N<ir sin by, silence when I should defend, Or hurt, when thoughtless, clumsily I handle, jin selfish deed, I lie heart of foe or friend. ;w . m Let me to-day be lavish in my giving, A kindly thought of health, a cheery smile; And so lie privileged to make this life worth living To others, though my heart be ksad the while. ■ ! Ami then at night, lot ntc look backward, seeing •'Twixt morn and bedtime, there in bright array, Through some good act. my conscience, pleased, agreeing: ‘Someone is glad that you have lived to-day! ’* —Anon.