Original Verse

Southland Times, Issue 22293, 7 April 1934, Page 18

Original Verse

AUTUMN. Ruddy autumn came to-day, Sober leaves are turning gay; All around fly troubled birds, Cattle move in restless herds. Autumn is a country lass, Unbound hair a burnished mass, Glowing cheeks of crimson bright, Honest eyes abrim with light. Jolly, sturdy, lavishly She splashes paint on ev’ry tree, Over stubbled fields of brown, Over country, over town, Ruddy autumn came to-day,

All is strangely, sadly gay. —4 marks to Cousin Chrissie Ross (15), Maia, Dunedin.

THE OLD FARM YARD. Down by the valley across by the mill, There’s our old farmyard standing still, With ducks, and hens, and turkeys and geese— Such a noise you’d think never would cease.

Along the meadow and o’er the lane, The same old herds come in again, Chewing their cud in silent glee, They walk along in two’s and threes.

Lambs are bleating and mothers fleeting, The sheep to lambs their advice keep repeating. From field to field they frolic and jump— The sight makes your heart give an extra big thump.

Slowly but surely the horses come in, Sniffing the air as they pass the bin. When they receive their feed they give a neigh, For that is all that horses can say.

It s nice to live on a farm of your own, Far better than shut in a town all alone With nothing but streets and footpaths so gray, So pack up at once and to the country away. —3 marks to Cousin Phyllis Cowan.