OUR POETRY

Taranaki Daily News, 5 July 1930, Page 24 (Supplement)

OUR POETRY

MY FRIEND, THE OV7L. My friend, the owl, sits up all night, In our big maple tree, And when I’m going off to bed fie taiko to me. He stares with eyes as round and big, Ao any at the zoo, And says--!' think it's very rude — “Who, who are yon?” THE TUG-OF-WAR. (Sent by Gilbert Cornwall.) Now, Billy, do !>e careful, And Peggy hold on tight; Remember it's a tug-of-war, And pull with all your might. Elizabeth and Steven Will win if you let go, So plant yohr feet down firmly. And dig your heels in tso. Of course you are determined. You never will give in. For that is half the battle— Make up your mind to win. Then if they pull you over, You're really not to blame, As long as you have done, your best And tried to play the game. MILL WHEEL SONG. (Scut by Mavis Hewson.) As the mill wheel turns it sings a fiong, It doesn't grouch that the day is long, That the water's cold, that it never stops. v That it comes in gallons, not in drops. It just goes round with a mighty splash, Titrnino' out rainbows like a flash. .And this is the song it sings to you. "I'm always fine and cheery when there’s work to do.” BIRTHDAY TALK FOR A OHII.D. (Sent by Dolly Jackson.) Daddy dear, I’m only four. And I’d rather not tie more: Four’s the nicest age to bo—'Two and two, or one and three. All I love is two and two, Mother, Fabian, Paul, and you: All you love is one and three--Mother, Fabian, Paul and me. Give your little girl a kiss Because she learned and told you this.

A HOPELESS CASE. (Sent by Wynfrid Hunt.) Said Pompey to the Pongo, “Old Party- from the Congo. “How, tell me, should this song go? “Come, help rne, sir, I pray!” But the Pongo, Pompey eyeing, Made a face, thereby implying That he really thought that trying Would be trouble thrown away. Then said Pompey to the Pongo, “At once I'll home along go. “My music will all wrong go "If hero I longer stay.” But t'his ape there was no besting, Waved his paw, thereby suggesting, “This isn’t interesting, “You’d Letter run and play!” A SCHOOLGIRL’S DIARY. (Sent by Norma Harper.) A safety-pin’s a useful thing to mend a reiit or tear, It’s better than a piece of string: I use it everywhere. When hooks and buttons will come lose, you haven’t time to stay, A safety-pin will make you spruce until another day. Elastic snaps beneath your chin, j Oh, sewing is so slow, Then run and get a safety-pin. The pin will never show. My mother says a stitch is best—she likes to sew, you see. I never put it to the test; a safetypin for me. Perhaps your skirt hangs down too low and needs a tuck, run in, A weary job it is to sew: just get a safety-pin. A precious thing this shining tin! When you don’t want to sew, Be sure to take a safety-pin wherever you' may go.

A LITTLE DOG’S TAIL.

(Sent by Mirren Reed.) Here you see the four of us seated in a row. I’m glad there’s no more of us, the reason you shall know. Well, every day at dinner time, and every day at tea, My brothers gobbled up the lot. and nothing left for me. My master gave one of us to a boy called Jim, I was very glad indeed to see the last of him. Then little Willie Smith, from the house next door but one, Took another brother off—l thought that topping fun. Mary and the baby took the third one home to tea—--1 thought that rather stupid. Now who’s to play with me? I c.iuldn't find a playmate. not even a tiny one, So I'm <>lT into the wide world to have a bit of fun. I met a little hedge-hog. but he wasn I very nice; 1 tried to pat him on the head, but I didn’t do it t\\ :ce. Then I had a little talk with a funny gipsy lad. Ill 1 asked me if I’d join the fair. It didn't sound too bad. Ho took me to the showman, oh, dear he was a swell, But, the little dancer was too sweet for words to tell. She taught me lots of clever tricks, as you can plainly see, But. being dressed up like th:.-, seems very dull io mo. T thought I'd help the juggler man in .my finest style, Somehow 1 upset-him. but it made the ipeople smiio. Pigs have always curly tails, I thought what fun to see Miss Pinky Porker's out of curl, but. deary, deary me!' I think upon reflection, good manners T must lack. For Mi.-s Porker rolled right over and landed on her back. 1 found myself unpopular and left that day at ten, Ami nobody about that place will see me there again. I felt that life was dull and <=ad, until I met this little lad. He took me home to sister Kate, Who gave me lots of milk to drink, ami a hone upon a plate. They petted me and stroked me and showed me to the cat. She let me share her basket and who wants more than that'.

TUMBLETOES. (Sent by Ngaere Campbell.) Tumbletoes sat by the fire and he dozed, And he dozed and he dozed. “Pm getting dull,” said the lire, So Tumbletoes poked him. Tumbletoes sat by the fire and dozed, And he dozed and dozed. “I’m going down,” said the fire, So Tumbletoes put a log on him. Tumbletoes sat by the fire and dozed, And he dozed ami dozed. “I’m going out,” said the fire, Still Tumbletoes dozed. Tumbletoes sat by the fire and dozed, And still ho dozed. So the fire went out while Tumbletoes dozed," But where he went nobody knows, SUMMER. (Sent by Mavis Gillivray.) In summer when the days are long, And the birds and bees fill the air with song, And flowers bloom in the meadows green, And everything is radiant with the beauty to be seen. When cricket’ and tennis are in the boom That’s when you find the children swimming in the lagoon. And when the glory of day is done, I love to sit and watch the setting sun, Then marvel at nature’s wonder rare, Thon go to my bed without a care. THE PUDDLE. (Sent by 'Winnie King Hon.) Maudie Miranda Marjorie May Went out to tea on a summer’s day — Everything white from head to toe, Everyone smiled when they saw her go. Maudie Miranda Marjorie May Saw a great puddle just in her way, Splashed carelessly through it, and then, alack. Maudie Miranda came home all black. UNFAIR. All the errand boys 1 meet Sing and whistle in the street, Nurse reproves me if I try, If they do it why not I? WANDER-THIRST. (Sent by Alice Muller.) Beyond the east, the sunrise, Beyond the west, the sea, And east, and west, the wander-thirst That will not let me be. It works in me like madness. To bid me good-bye, For the sea and the stars call, And, oh, the call of the sky! I know not where the white road rune, Nor what the blue hills are, But a man can have a sun for his friend And for his guide a star. But there is no end of voyaging When once the voice is heard, For the rivers call and the stars call, And, oh, the call of the birdl

CAN YOU GUESS? (Sent by Marion Curran.) What gets wet with drying?—A tea towel. Why is a sugar-plum like a racehorse?—Because the faster you lick it the faster’ it goes. What is the difference between an elephant standing on a bun and a riddle ? —One is - a. bunundrim and the other is a conundrum (bun under him). Why. is the letter E like rain?—Because it puts an end to league. (Sent by Ngaere Campbell.) Why can a horse never starve?—Because it always has a bit in its mouth. What are the most difficult ships to conquer ? —Hardships. Why is a yjouse like a hay-stack ?— Because the cat’ll eat it (cattle). (Sent by Mavis Gillivray.) Why is King George like a hat?—Because they both have crowns. Why is Sunday the strongest day in the seven?—Because the others arc week days (weak days). Why can you never expect a. fishmonger to be generous? —Because his business makes him sel-fish. 'Why are fowls fashionable birds? — Because they are dressed for dinner. How does a pig build himself a He ties a knot in his tail and calls it a pig’s tie (pige stye). (Sent by Merle Druce.) What is the longest word ?—“Smiles,” because there is a mile between the first and last letter. What comes once In a minute, twice in a moment, and never in a hundred years?—The letter “M.'” Why are hair-slides like strongly guarded castles?—Because they are for tresses (fortresses). Which is the most dangerous bat which flys in the air?— "A brickbat. What is often cut on the table, but never eaten ? —A pack of cards. Why can we have snow at any time we wish? —Because we need only take away the “8” and we have it now (s-now),

MAKE BELIEVE. Let’s make-believe—let’s rnake-be-fteve; ’Tie lots of fun and good to do. It is a jolly magic that Will make good dreams come true. Real make-believing turns the mind Away from ugly thoughts and things, And, like the sunshine after rain, A* wealth of flowers brings. Good make-believe will take the place Of self-distrust and gloomy doubt; And it will brighten mind and heart By putting shadows out.

GOLLIWOG. (Sent by Patty Watson.) Although my hair’s all’bristles, And as prickly as thistles, And my nose and feet are flatter Than yours, it doesn’t matter; For my eyes and mouth keep grin* ning In a manner rather winning; And my heart could not be lighter, Although my face were whiter. So when your spirits falter, Remember mine don’t alter; And if you would be jolly, Just come and visit Golly. LOST. (Sent by Merle Druce.) Lost, somewhere between sunrise and sundown. —One golden hour set with sixty diamond, minutes. Reward to finder. LIMERICKS. (Sent by Merle Druce.) “I am late,” quoth the boy. “it is truej k My excuse, though, is good, And it’s new. Long division I thought so milch longer than short, That, in short, it took longer , to do. A pretty little trout was eager to go out, But dearie me; the sky was very black; 'So I heard his mother say, “You may go a little way, “And if it rains, he sure to hurry back.” Tommy said to Sister Sue, with Innocence delicious, “Should one use water colour paints when painting little fishes?” Sister Sue was doing sums, But rested from her toil. To say, “If fishes are sardines, they should be done in oil.”

DADDY IN THE HONOURS LIST. The nicest remark made about tho new Honours List came from a very tiny girl. ‘Darling,” said the mother, “the King has. made daddy a baronet.” “Bovver!” replied the child. “X didn’t want him to be any different!” , Surely no greater tribute was ever paid to a father. It must Lave pleased him more than his title-