OUR POETRY

Taranaki Daily News, 5 October 1929, Page 24 (Supplement)

OUR POETRY

IF T KNEW. (Sent by Rex. Woodley.) If I. knew where Hie. smiles were kept. No matter how large the key Or strong- the bolt. I would try so hard (‘would open J know for me. Then over the land and sea broadcast. J would seatler the smiles to play, That the childrenb faces might hold them fast. For many and many a day. KITTY’S NUMBER LESSON’. (Sent by Joyce Burton.) Seven sheep were standing by the pasture wall. “Tell me.” said Ike teacher to her scholar* small. “One poor sheep got frightened. Jumped and ran away; One from seven, how many woolly sheep would stay?” Up went Kitty’s lingers, a farmer’s daughter site. Not so bright at figures as she ought to he. “Please, miss.” ‘-Well, then, Kitty, tell u« if you know.” “Please. if one jumped over, all the rest would go.” WHEN THE FAIRIES KNOCKED. (Sent by “Daffodil.”) We heard the fairies knocking At. the bolted door. •'.Let us in, they softly cried! We will not ask for more!’’ We tiptoed very gently. And slipped the bolt away; The heavy door swung’ creaking hack The fairies; where were they? The moon was like a whisper, The path was still and white, We saw no little, people there To mock us in the night. We shut the door and locked it And hurried back to bed; But- then we heard their cry again “Come; let us in,” they said. A SECRET. (Sent by Amy Burrell.) Only she and the baby knew The nurse was out, and his mother, too. Great-grandma said, “ Why, haven't you heard; I brought up nine? you’re to absurd! Now run along and never fear, I’ll take good care of the precious dear.” But the baby woke, the baby cried, And the baby would not be denied. She rubbed him warm, with tender hands, She turned him over and eased his bands: But babies are wise, and this one knew,. His dear great-grandma through and through. And, well, she did it, half in fright, Yet simply aquiver with delight. She rocked that baby! and tried to sing, . • The while she cuddled the little thing. And when he gurgled and hushed his cries, , Making a .sleepy little coo-00-00-o, And slowly, slowly shut his eyes, Quite as her babies used to dp, Great grandma, crooning a nursery rhyme Had, oli, such a rapturous, wicked time! • • So they had a secret, just fhese two, For only she and the bahy knew.

BAD DOG. (Sent by Cora Andrews.) ‘•Why did you kill my Golliwog?" “I tore him limb from limb, Because when I was doing tricks, You only looked at him. “I didn’t mean to vex you, though, I’m trying to explain: Forgive a little sorry dog. And play with me again." THE SNAIL-. (Sent by Nancy Middleion.) Ail across the garden wall, silvery and bright, There's a line where a snail Took a walk last night. Tie came ffom the rockery, For something to eat, And that would be bis foot marks If a snail had feet! . THE DONKEY BIDE. (Sent by Mavis Coad.) Over the sands, so far and wide. Shouts the donkey boy: “Who’s for a ride?” The children chatter and laugh with glee. As they ride along by the sparkling sea. Young Jerry he shouts: “I want a ride!” With sister running along beside. So up he jumps on the donkey’s hack, And starts away with a gentle tap. At last the glorious day is done. The weary donkeys now go home. To bed the boys soon wend their way. To waken fresh and bright next day! NANCIBELL THE DANCER, (Sent by Esther Billing.) Nancibell has dancing shoes, Pretty, pointed, trim" and tiny. In the palest pinks and blues, Trimmed with’ buckles bright and shiny; She looks like a wee princess. When she’s In her party dress! She can dance as snowflakes do, When they dance as thev come falling; She can trip like fairies, too, When the elfin pipes are calling; This way, that way, dance her toe?, Then a spring and up she goes! What it is no one can tell Makes her quite so light and airy; I believe that Nancibell Must take lessons from the fairy, She just makes you understand How they dance in Fairyland I