OUR POETRY

Taranaki Daily News, 27 September 1930, Page 20 (Supplement)

OUR POETRY

FINE FEATHERS NE’ER CAN MAKE FINE BIRDS. (Sent by Eileen Doduuski.) A peacock came, with plumage gay, Before a cottage door one day, Beneath a little bird, whose song From out of his cage had charmed the throng. As, vainly thus, the peacock stood The songster cheered the neighbourhood; E'en while the one in colours bright Displayed his jifumage to the sight, The other sang, in sweetest words, “Fine feathers ne’er can make Hue birds.” The peacock strove, but quite in vain, Each, person’s praise himself to gain; But still the warbler, in his cage, Did every car and eye engage, \ And, now, the bird of rainbow wing Attempts, alas! himself to sing; But they who owned his beauty bright, Disgusted by his screams, took flight. The other sang in sweetest words, “Fine feathers ne’er can make fine birds.” Then take warning, .children, fair, And of the peacock's fate beware; ■' Nor wealth, nor rank can win your way ’ Howe’er attired in plumage gay; Some means to charm you all must know. /- ■, Apart from drees 'and outward show; Some virtue, grace, some gift of mind,' Or beauty vain must fall behind; ■While otlieig sing, in truthful, words, “Fine feathers ne'er can make' fine birds.” Y ’ (Sent by Keith Gosnell.) I walked into a woodland, I danced among the fern, And little fairies blithe and gay Met me at every turn. They flew out from the daisies, They flew down from the trees, ? They rose from every flower and bush That floated on the breeze. . .. ' They skippe' upon the water, They flew from tree to tree; And this enchanted forest is A paradise tb me. '' . 1 SNOWDROPS. (Sent by Marjorie Fraser./ Little ladies, white and green, With your spear about you,' Will you tell us where you’ve been Since \ve'lived without you? You are sweet, and fresh, and clean,, 'With you .pearly faces;. In the dark'earth where you’ve been, There are wondrous places. Yet you come again, serene, When the leaves' are hidden; Bringing joy from where you’ve been, You return unbidden. Little ladies, white and green, I Are you glad to. cheer us? Hunger not for Where- you've been Stay-till Spring be near us.

IF. I ..._■(Sent by Joan Casper.) . -y*4f all the world -were apple pic, . x And all the wafer, ink, • What should we do for bread and cheese ? ■< ' " • ’ : What should we do for drink? " THE WEAVER. (Sent by Maggie Rangi.) There's a wonderful weaver high up ’■ hi the air; He weaves a white mantle for a cold eai’th to. wear.- - ■>o'iWlth ; -thd windnfor ’liis Chattier, thfe' cloud for his loom, How he weaves, }iow he weaves, in the light iii the. gloom; Of the finest of laces he decks bush and tree, • . On the broad grassy meadows a cover lays he. Then-a quaint cap. he places on pillar and post, And changes the pump to a grim silent ghost. But this wonderful, weaver grows ■ weary-'iat last,-; '-. > And the shuttle is idle that once flew so fast. Then the sun peeps abroad on the work that is done. And smiles, “I’ll unravel it all just i for fun.” SELF CONTROL. . (Sent by Lorna Gosnell.) Whendnother has some friends to tea, She generally sends. for me, And don’t I hate it when the makes Me carry round the creamy cakes. It’s very hard to see a, guest Pick out the one you like the best. And though I know t’would not be right _ , (For .one should always,be polite), I’d like to say: ’■‘Please, not that one! Do try a scone, or cherry bun, And have another cup of tea— But leave that creamy cake for me!” ELDORADO. (Sent by Ernestine Richardson.) Gaily bedight, A gallant knight, ' In sunshine and in shadow, Had- journeyed ling, ■Singing a song, In search of Eldorado. But he grew old,’ This knight so bold, And o'er his heart, a shadow Fell as he found, No spot of ground,.; That looked like Eldorado. And, as his strength ' Failed himsat length, He met' a pilgrim Shadow; “Shadow,” said he, “Where can it be, This’land of Eldorado?” “Over the Mountains' Of the Moon, Down the valley of the Shadow. Ride, boldly ride,” The Shadow rdplied, , “If you seek for Eldorado.” FROG’S HOLIDAY. (Sent by Kathleen Travers.) I do love walking in the rain, whatever mother says; The nicest walks 1 ever have are all on rainy days. My mackintosh keeps out the wet, with woolly coats inside. - I love the smell of rubber shoes, and when I run they slide. To-day the rain came splashing down ■ as if it couldn’t stop; The puddles laughed until they all had bubbles on the top. Mother hates to see the road so wet with frowning skies above it. I wish she was a frog, and then she’d altogether love it. GARDEN TALK. (Sent by Joan Bevin.) 'Said the swallow to the robin “1 suppose you don’t forget “That summer days were ending, ‘‘You know, when last we met.” Said robin: “1 remember, “And hardly need explain, t'You’vc missed the stormy winter, “And spring is here again.”

lIL'RIIAH FOR THE POSTMAN. (Sent by Joyce Moore.) .Hurrah for the postman, Who brings us the news! What a lot it nnwt lake To pay for his shoes! For be walks many miles Each day of the week. And though he would like to, Mmst not stay to speak. Red stripes roiyid his blue cap, With clothing'to match it; If he lost any letters. Oh, wouldn't he catch it. WISHES. (Sent by, Pearl Spencer.) If all my wishes could come true, How happy 1 could be, Instead of toiling here at home, I'd cs’ail across the sea. I'd visit strange and wondrous lands. Where palms and fig trees grow. I'd roam among the coral island, Where balmy breezes blow. For cows and calves I'd never yearn; I’d live a life of ease; I'd have ten cars, an aeroplane, And do just as I please. LIMERICK. 1 (Sent by Hilda Ruskin.) There was a young lady named Prue, Watched football at gay Timaru, She said, “Oh, how exciting, “To see the boys biting, ‘Tt's really as good as the zoo.” DADDY ANDI BABSY. (Sent by Betty Olliver.) Poor mother was tired out, and daddy was vexed, And really, they didn't know what to do next. It was time little eyelids in slumber so deep, But dear, oh! dear, Babsy would nit go to deep. Mother came down with a very pale smile, Daddy says, “Let me go up for a while, “I’ll tell her a story, my dear, and sing her “Some 1 quaint old songs till she does go to sleep.” At last there was silence, but soon at the door Mother heard little feet, go pit-a-pat on the floor, And into the room Babsy just gave a peep And said “Hush! mummy dear, I’se got daddy, to sleep!” V LEAP FROG. (gent by Lynda Dilley.) These leaping frogs are green and shiny, * And some are big and others tiny; ‘They don’t object to mud and slime And have a very happy time. Across each other’s backs they leap. Into the pond so cold and deep. They s.wim about with easy grace, And go at a tremendous pace. (Sent by Beatrice Simmons.) The man in.the wilderness asked me, How many- strawberries grew in the sea ? I answered him as I thought good, As many red herrings as grew in the wood.' 19119. What do I ask of ’29? A friend to love and keep as mine, A. j-oad’.to .a,/horse to ;ride, A heart to laugh whate’er betide, A dream to dream, a song to sing, Courage to meet what fate may bring, ■ A battle to fight, a game to play, Sleep at the-end of the -longest day, And, oh, through good report and ill, My dog, my d,og, to love me still. < THE FAIRIES’ PARTY. (Mavis Stanton made this up by her-. A way' in the distance under the trees, ' Fluttering and dancing in the breeze, The fairies, goblins, gnomes and elves Are having a party all by themselves. The little cook with a enow white cap Does frolicking tricks, and the fairies clap. The gnomes are as happy as happy can be, And the Fairy Queen is laughing with glee. WHAT CAR? (Sent by Keith Gosnell.) My first is in dull, but not in bright, My second’s in cloud, but not in light, My third is in road, but not in street, My fourth its in haughty, but not in sweet; My fifth is in clef, but not in bar; My whole is the name of a wellknown car.—A Dodge. • WHAT IS IT? (Sent by Joau Carter.) Within a marble tpmb confined, Whose milk white walls with silk are lined, A golden apple doth appear, Steeped in a bath of crystal clear. . No doors, no windows to behold, But thieves steal in and take the gold. —Answer, an egg.