ORIGINAL VERSE.

Southland Times, Issue 21662, 26 March 1932, Page 19

ORIGINAL VERSE.

A MESSAGE. I planted some seeds in a garden plot, In the soil so warm and sweet, And soon from the tiny seeds there grew Green fairies so small and neat. They grow to a stately green-clothed plant That the soft breeze loved to toss. Each head was crowned with a wondrous flower, A beautiful salpigloss. I plucked a few of the fairest blooms, With colours so rich in blend. They bore a message of love from me Afar to a distant friend. r-4 marks to Cousin Margaret Jellyman (11), Queen street, Otautau. EVENTIDE. What better time for a me than this, To sit at eventide in bliss, And gaze across to silver seas Or dream of lands with golden trees? What better time than this for man To rest and talk of life's short span, Or think, perhaps, of better days With nights of joy and days of praise? What better time than for rest, At eventide when life is best Quiet and calm to soothe the mind And leave all sorrows far behind ? r— 3 marks to Cousin Betty McDonald (15), 417 Elies Road, South Invercargill. AUTUMN. Summer’s joys are past and gone, Autumn’s beauties follow on; In her arms she carries sheaves— Gold and crimson are her leaves. Apples golden, form her crown, Autumn’s robe is red and brown. —3 marks to Cousin Margaret Henderson (1-1), Mataura. SMILE. When the days seem long and dark and dreary And everyone looks tired and weary, What can we do to make them feel more cheery? We can smile. . When overhead the skies are dull and grey And all the sun’s bright rays are cast away, What can we do to make some sunshine to-day? We can smile. When just because things will not go quite right, We have to work till it is dark at night, What can we do to make ourselves more bright? We can smile. When in sheets the rain starts coming down And everyones' high hopes quickly drown, What can we do to chase away some frown ? We can smile. When all around us folks are looking sad Perhaps because they say, “The times are bad,” What can we do to make them feel more glad? We can smile. No matter if the skies be grey or blue, Nor if the grass be wet with rain or dew, There is always something that we all can do, And that is—smile. —2 marks to Cousin Ada M. Hodgkinson (15), Waikaka. SPRING. Violets peep from their shy blue eyes On a world transformed to green; The snowdrop tinkles her bells in the breeze, As it plays unseen. Little green buds, on the trees so brown, Wake glad from their long dull sleep. I rimroses, white and gold creep forth, On a sunny world to peep. Tlie skylark small soars up on high, Singing his glad clear note. While “Spring is here, so come, rejoice!” Seems to echo from his throat. -2 marks to Cousin Daphne Swift (13), 178 McMaster street, Invercargill. , THE RAIN. It gently falls upon tho ground, On all the flowers which grow around— It falls as if with not a sound— Gently, gently. Whence did it come, the cool sweet rain ? From the cloud to earth around and back again? It falls in soundless, sweet refrain— The rain, the rain. -1 mark to Cousin Zoe Smith (14), 24 Mitchell street, Invercargill.