WHAT THE MOON SAW.

Southland Times, Issue 21657, 19 March 1932, Page 19

WHAT THE MOON SAW.

—Prize. — The moon arose one summer’s eve To take a tour around; He climbed high up into the sky, Where all the stars are found. He gazed below to Mother Earth, ■Where folks were fast asleep; Till in a garden, just for fun, He thought he’d take a peep. But soon his eyes were big and round, A sight so strange was there; A host of fairies, hard at work, Among the plants so rare. They carried drops of sparkling dew To place upon the Howers; They touched each plant with magic wand, All through the long night hours. He stared in silent wonder now, As gaily they worked on, He watched a thousand lovely flowers Burst open, one by one. Then, in the centre of each flower, In cups so small and neat, The fairies very gently placed Some honey, rich and sweet. 4 With colours bright, of many shades Each flower, then was dressed, So beautiful they all were made, Not one could he call best. Yet still the fairy band toiled on, With never-tiring skill, Until a sunbeam, bright and clear, Came gliding down a hill. It rested on the garden sweet, The miracle to view; While up along its shining lanes The happy fairies flew. The moon sank slowly in the west, As forward came the light, But often comes to see again The wonder of the night. —2/6 and 4 marks to Cousin Margaret Jellyman (11), Queen Street, Otautau. —Prize. — The big, round moon in the sky last night Saw many a thing, I know; He saw the rabbits come out to play, And merrily frisk to and fro. He saw an owl fly home to her nest With food for her babies three; He saw the moths go fluttering by, Right over the tallest tree. He saw the black cow asleep on the road, And the pony all' white by the gate; He saw the small toys in frolicsome play, Forgetting the time was so late. Then as he rose higher above the dark hill Tire best sight of all did he see; ’Twas tho fairy-folk dancing upon the green grass, In a ring round a blackberry tree! —2/6 and 4 marks to Cousin Mary O’Brien (11), Haldane, Tokanui R.D.

—Highly Commended. — The mystic mantle of the night Had wrapped the world in sleep, Except where in the distant fields, The shepherds watched their sheep. And as the silver moon arose, Behind the dark, dark wood, The fairy band came marching out, And in a circle stood. The moon looked down with gentle glance, Upon the fairies’ ball. And as they danced a lively step, She kept her watch o’er all. No harm would come while Lady Moon Was there to light the scene, And so the fairies could be gay, While dancing on the green. At last the silver radiance Was sinking in the west. She looked once more on earth below, Before she turned to rest. —2 marks to Cousin Dorothy Fox (16) 94 Earn street, Invercargill. —Commended. — The pale and yellow evening moon Lay waning in the sky. The stars shone down with a silver light All the birds to their nests did fly. The moon looked down upon the earth How silent—still was all, And the autumn leaves upon the trees How softly did they fall. In the babbling brook that flows along Flowed the beauty of the night

But the prettiest thing that e’er was there Was that pale moon’s yellow light. Through the trees came the hoot of an owl, Then far away it flew And every small green blade of grass, Held a glittering drop of dew. Now don’t you agree with me to this That night is better than day? The moon saw all these things this night Before it faded away. —1 mark to Cousin Daisy Dunlop (12) Niagara. Oh Moon: thou queen, set far apart, Beyond our human ken, Can I portray what’s in your heart As you gaze on this land of men? » A shining ball of silver light, Star-gemed in burnished gold, You guide us through the darkest night, Like a shepherd watching his fold. You see a wide expanse, a haze, A myriad points of light The fihny caps of crested waves, As they break o'er soft sands white. The billowing surf under Neptune’s frown, When the waves are lashed by his hand, People and lands of tropic renown, Orange groves, coral strand. In a cottage a night-gowned group, With eyes and cheeks aglow, Into a bedroom quietly troop, Kneel and whisper their prayers so low. —1 mark to Cousin Margaret Henderson, (14), Mataura.