OUR POETRY

Taranaki Daily News, 20 December 1930, Page 20 (Supplement)

OUR POETRY

PERPLEXED. I’ve been an’ hung my stockin’ up, And Gran’ma’s too, And writ an’ tole ole Santa Claus Jus’ what to do. I asked my Gran’ma what she’d have; •She shook her head, Put on her specs, and-“ Fiddlesticks!” Was all she said. I wonder what she wants them for; She didn’t say. » She hasn’t got a fiddle, an’ She couldn’t play. A CHRISTMAS PARTY. (Sent by Mavis Stanton.) Such doings took place as you’d hardly believe In a greengrocer’s shop late on last Christmas Eve. A funny fat pumpkin jumped up, and , he said: “Let’s all have some fun!” and he, stood on his head. “Hooray!” cried the Onion, ’mid cheering and shouts, And a Cabbage waltzed off with some gay Brussels Sprouts! The French beans spoke French that was like Double Dutch, " And the Artichoke choked, he was laughing so much. The Runner Beans’ ran from this counter to that, The Cokernut stood on his head on the mat; The Vinegar Bottles stepped down from their shelves And danced with the Capers, who capered themselves. They kept up the fun till the dawn of the day; And however they did it I really can’t say; ’ But at six o’clock they were all in their places With never so much as a smile on their faces! Natalie Joan. (Abridged.) CHRISTMAS. . (Sent by Mavis Stanton.) 0, the sea-breeze will be steady, and the tall ships going trim, And the dark blue ekies are paling, and the white stars burning dinj.; The long night watch is over, and the long sea-roving done, _ And.yonder light is the Start Point Light, and yonder comes the sun. 0, we have been with the Spaniards, and far and long on the, sea; But there are the twisted chimneys, and the gnarled old inns' on the quay. ’ ■ ' ,l> . ’A'-' , ‘ The wind blows keen as the day ■breaks, -th-e roofs are white with the rime, And the church-bells ring as the sun comes up to call men in to Prime.

The church-bells rock and jangle, and there is peace .on, earth,,. Peace and goodwill and plenty, and Christmas games and mirth. O, the gold glints bright'on the wind•vane as it shifts above the squire’s house, And the • water of the bar of Salco'mbe is muttering about the bows.

0, the salt sea tide of Salcombe, it .wrinkles into wisps of foam, ■ And th© church-'bells ring in Salcom.be to ring poor. sailors home. The 'belfry rocks a-s the -ring,: the chimes are merry as a song, They ring home wandering ..sailors who have been homeless long. —John Masefield.LITTLE TED’TO ME.' , ;

(Sent by Ivy Hollis.) . “I mean to. light a candle;” • ■Said little Ted to me, “And set it. in th© window “So Santa Claus can see. 1U “And then I’m sure for certain, “When he beholds the light, ■ “He’ll try to find our chimney, “However dark the night.’’ Forthwith the- torch was lighted, And set upon the sill, . To warn the Sant of Christmas, That there were socks to fill. He must have seen the signal, - As sure as you were born, ” ■ Our little Ted’s two stockings, Wpre filled on Christmas morn.

CHRISTMAS. (Sent by Marjorie Borland,). ■Set your fir tree in a pot; . Needle^ 'green are all it’s got. Shut the door, and go away,, , ? And so to sleep 'till Christmas Day? In the-morning seek your- tree, And you shall see. what you-shall see." Hang your stocking by the. fire,Empty, with your heart’s-desire; Up the chimney say yotir say, .. And so to sleep till Christmas Day. In the morning draw the blind,.' And you shall’ find what you shall find..' . ‘ A TRAGEDY’ IN SIX ACTS.: C (Sent by “Little Miss Muffet.-”-) '.. Mother’s cupboard In the wall;. Little boy: “Wish,! was tall.” ' . ~ Little boy ■Saw jam pots, . Ran for steps, Which he got. .... . Cupboard' door Open, wide, Little.boy' ' .; . - , Crept inside. ■ ■ f ■, Steps slipped,. ■Boy fell out, Hit the floor— An. awful shout! Hospital gates, Open wide, Little boy Taken inside. Little boy Cried in pain Before they let Him out again. A TALE OF A TUB. ?' (Sent by Margaret Parker.) You little boat, you pretty boat. Upon a silver sea! Sail far away across, the bay, And then come back to me. So far it sailed, away, away, A gallant sight to see, Till over went that little bay, And over too went he. O, little boy, O, pretty boy, You never looked for this. Come, Mother, help him up again, And soothe him with a kiss. AND SO TO BED. (Sent by Dena Hurlstone.) Oh, Golly is so wide awake. And Dolly’s fast asleep, And Binkie Boy with all the -toys Lies huddled in a heap.

I wonder w r hat they really do When I am tucked in bed? Oh, will they go to Shuteye Town, Or play all night instead?

SPRING’S PARTY. (Sent by INoel Rookes.) Spring, once'gave a party, Invited all her flowers. They wore, their gayest party frocks, And" danced between the showers. The first to come were snowdrops — They looked a charming sight. In little green trimmed petticoats And ballet dresses white. And after them came crocuses In purple, mauve and gold, ’. Abd each one had a slender spear,' Of deepest greep to hold. - And little blue froc.ked violet Looked very sweet and shy, _ . As she watched the tall bent jonquil So gayly gliding by. CAN YOU? (Sent by Rena Knox.) Can you find the gold where the rain'bow ends? Can you take 'the swallows and make them, friends? Can you catch a sunbeam or see' a breeze? Can you teach.a crocking old frog to sneeze ? Can you bake a pudding of white snowflakes? Can you blow a bubble' that never " breaks? Can you see the fairies that paint the flowers? • Can. you count’ the drops of the thunder showers?' •. : Can you build, a nest-for. the willowwren? Can you tell why twice times four ’ aren’t ten ? You may be clever, but still I’ll bet There are some of these things you can’t do yet, THE BIRTHDAY CHILD. Everything’s been different Ail the day long; Lovely things have happened; Nothing has gone wrong. Nobody has scolded me; Everyone has smiled. Isn’t it delicious ■ To be a birthday child ? . JINGLES. (Sent by “Jingle Bells.’’) A rainbow in the sky,, • A peacock on the wall, A blue 'fish darting by, A silver waterfall. ,‘ A princess tossing-high . A shining gblden ball, • > And no. one -will deny, /, . She s the fairest of them all. . ... LIMERICK.'S..,; J. . ' (Sent by Alfred Moore.) ' . There was an old baker of Cole, Who professed to-be able to bowl; (Of . course ’twas at : cricket), He ne’er'hit the. wicket;,-. But folks said, “He can?t help it, poor . BQUI.”< •• •' ' ■ ~ ; /'■ : There : was, a-young- chap out of Aller, Who-wore a girt tie green and. yaller; He carried al .cane ......- To keep off the. rain, And his hair w'as all shiny with tallar. . WHERE GO THE BOATS? . . , ,'(Sent-by: Amelia’Radford.) i- • ■ ;i- Where go the .boats ?. . , - - Dark, brown is the -river, ■ ...: ! - Golden- .is the sand, ; ; lit flows along forever, With tr.ees on .either hand. , Green "leaves are floating, Castles of the foam. ■ . ' . Boats ofi rpine; are. bqjating. Where will all come home? - ' On. goes the river,.' ; .. '. Qiit past .-the .mill, .. , .. * ■■■■ Away down the .valley, ;, Away.d-own -the hill.j ■ . • / .;. A hundred- miles or more. Other ■•little children , , Shall bring my boats ashore. ' : WINTER., ‘ : (Sent by Desmond Kelly.) i . Ah! the days are. getting colder, : The winds are far more keen, • The bright autumn leaves they moul- . der,.' : ■' And the flowers no more are seen. Ah, the cattle all \seek shelter, From the pelting winter rain, Muddy are the ’streams that pkelter, O’er , the dreary. frozen plain. : ! -Gone are the days when the sun shone, . ’ Ah, but come they , will again. When the. charming yeljow .buttercup Blooms forth with might and main. ,<-’A N’lt® little', pr-Esent. " ■ '(Sent byJoyce '■Thompson. 1 ) ' “Our Santa. Claus,” cried Betty, ; “Is nice as any other ; ' ' . “He brought the nicest present “To me and to my mother. ' ■' “It 'was—ph, you. can’t guess it—“A darling little brother. .; “He kicks and cries and liis ,eyes, : ~ . , ..... . -I “Ap'd he’s sweet enough to eat. ‘‘l’d > rather have my baby brother, “Than dolls, or candy—so would . .'mother.”, • >. ’r v ’ ? . NOT- GUILTY. .. (Sent by, Merle Druce.) Ragged, uncomely, old and . grey, .-A woman walked' through a northern town, .And as through..the crowd she picked .’her. way.. f ; One saw her loiter—and then, stoop down, Hiding something away- in her old torn gown. • . :i “What have, you stolen?”, the words 'rang out';' , y “What are you hiding?” they asked again. j The old eyes turped with a', look of . .pain',■ And under the flickering light of the gas . ( ; She showed what she'd stolen: “It’s . broken glass,” . She said; '“l’ve picked it up in the street'; ; “Out of the way of the children’s . feet.” '. ' ' Under the fluttering rags astir. That was’ a. royal heart that beat, Would that the world had more like her, , ' Smoothing the way for the. children’s feet-' - ’•; .T. ; : 'SAY THIS SIX 1 . TIMES. Sing a song that is sung with a sigh. Strong Stephen. Stringer snared six sickly snakes. - JUAIBLE-D FLOWERS. (Sent by “Buttercup.”) 'Rnatcaion —Carnation. Sypan—Pansy. Ormbo—Broom. Tscok —Stock, , Lwawreolfl —Wallflower. Soree —Roses. •. Etrsas —Asters....... ’ • . 'Siasref —Fresias. West© Asep—Sweet Oilav—-Viola.