OUR POETRY

Taranaki Daily News, 1 August 1931, Page 8 (Supplement)

OUR POETRY

WHERE DID YOL" COME FROM? (Sent by Ruth Laird.) Where did you come from, baby dear? Out of everywhere into here. Where did you get your eyes so blue? Out of the* sky as 1 came through. What makes ' the light in them sparkle and spin? Some of the starry spikes left in. Where did you get that little tear? I found it waiting when I got here. I FOLLOWED THE THISTLEDOWN. (Sent by Minehaha.) I followed the thistledown over the fields, Through the poppies that waved in the corn, And it lured me on with its fluttering grace As it sailed, through the summer morn. And the sky was blue, And the willows were grey, And the meadow-sweet grew Where the stream slipped away. I followed the thistledown over the hills,' But it slipped from my outstretched hand, And it lured me on with its fluttering grace As it sailed through the summer morn. And the sea was blue, And the gulls shone white, As they homeward flew In the evening light. I followed the thistledown over the sea As the stars peeped out in the sky, And it lured me on in the summer night To the country of hush-a-by. And the dawn grew red, In the sun’s first gleam; I woke up in bed And laughed at my dream.

iiimiiuijiiiiiiiiniiiimHitiiiiiinnniHiiiiHiitiHitHitHiiitinHiii HIAWATHA’S BROTHERS. (Sent by Tom Coupe.) Of all hearts he learned the language, Learned their names and all their secrets; • How the beavers built their lodges, Where the squirrels hid their acorns; How the reindeer ran so swiftly, Why the rabbit was so timid. Talked with them whene’er he met them, Called them Hiawatha’s brothers. MY BOOK. (Sent by Janet Wright.) My book is very kind indeed; As soon as I sit down to read, It opens wide upon my knee Just at the page I want to see. It’s strange! How can my book have guessed The story that I like the best? HIAWATHA’S CHICKENS. (Sent by Tom Coupe.) Then the little Hiawatha Learned of every bird its language; - Learned their • names and all their secrets, How they built their nests in summer, Where they hid themselves in winter. Talked with them whene’er he met them, Called them Hiawatha’s chickens. SOLOMON GRUNDY. (Sent by Tom Coupe.) Solomon Grundy born on Monday, Christened on Tuesday, married on Wednesday; Took ill on Thursday, worse on Friday, Died on Saturday, buried on Sunday: This is the end of Solomon Grundy. GOING TO MARKET. (Sent by Adrian Cook.) When three little piggies to market go, Someone must walk behind them; For if they ran to the wood, ah, then, How.would the farmer find them? Sniffy and Snuffy and Curly-tail— Pink', with a brown patch showing: “Which one is which?” “Ah,” Nora cries, “Sure, but that’s past my knowing! “Trot along, piggies, the market’s far. Come, you must go much faster! You’ve got to be sold for silver or gold, And all of you have a new master.” ■THE GOOD-NIGHT. (Sent by Clement Relf.) The night brings friendly dark To all on land and sea; It brings good rest to beast and bird, ■Sweet sleep to you and me. TRIPPING INTO TOWN. (Sent by Merle Druce.) A little lass with golden, hair, A little lass with brown, A little lass with raven locks, Went tripping into town. “I like the golden hair the best,” “And I prefer the brown,” “And I the black,” three sparrows said, Three sparrows of the town. Tu-whit-tu-whoo! so fast, so fast The sands of life run down! And soon, so soon! three white-haired dames Will totter through the town. Gone then for aye the raven locks, The golden hair, the brown; And she will fairest be whose face Has never worn a frown. MY SHIP. (Sent by Mary Young.) I have the prettiest 1 little ship, With sails as white as snow. I went down to the river-side To sail it to and fro. And, oh! A puff of wind came by And took my boat from me; I wonder if it's sailing now Upon the wide blue sea.

CHOOSING SHOES. (Sent by Janet Wright.) New shoes, new shoes, Red and pink, and blue shoes, . Tell me what would you choose If they’d let us buy. Buckle shoes, low shoes, Pretty pointy-toe shoes, Strappy, cappy, low shoes, Let’s have some io try. Bright shoes, white shoes, Lovely dancing-by-night shoes, Perhaps a little tight,Like some? So should I. ButFlat shoes, fat shoes, Stump-along-like-that shoes. Wipe them on the mat shoes, Oh, that’s the sort they’ll buy. THE KING'S CAKE. (Sent by Lily Baker.) King Alfred he could sing a song As sweet as any man’s; King Alfred he could fight a throng, And think out battle plans. King Alfred from his heart so true The English laws could make. But one thing Alfred couldn’t do— He couldn’t bake a cake. I’d rather be like Alfred than Like any other king; I’d rather, more than any man, Hear Alfred play and sing. I’d rather keep for England’s sake The laws he made for me; But I’d rather eat my mother’s cake Than Alfred’s for my tea. AFTER-SCHOOL HOURS. . (Sent by Ruby Allen.) School is closed and tasks are done, Flowers are laughing in the sun; Like the songsters in the air, Happy children, banish care! A RIDE THROUGH THE AIR. (Sent by Joyce Murphy.) Some‘little drops of water, ■ Whose home was in the sea, To go upon a journey Once happened to agree. A cloud they had for carriage, Those drops, a playful breeze, And over town and country They rode along at ease. But, oh. there were so many, At last the carriage, broke, And to the ground came tumbling These frightened little folk. And through the moss and grasses They were compelled, to roam Until a brooklet found them, And carried them all home. MARY’S LAMB. (Sent by Edna Whiting.) Mary had a little lamb, Which grew to be a sheep. The wool upon its back became Too thick and warm to keep. Then Mary’s sheep did', with the rest, Down to the creek-side go, And soon again it well could boast <f A fleece as white as snow.’’ The shearer came, and with his shears Cut off the heavy wool, Till every sheep was shorn at last, And all the sacks were full. The wool that came from Mary’s sheep Was spun and woven, dears, And made into a nice warm coat, Which Mary wore for years. BABY MARGARET’S BIRTHDAY. (Sent by Edna Whiting.) Baby Margaret is having a birthday treat, The see-saw is part of the fun; • Sitting down close to the soft, green grass, Then high up to meet the sun. Two little girls from over the way Have come to the birthday tea. Molly’s afraid she will tumble oft; Joan says, “Hold on tight to me.” ■ They are to have tea all alone — No nurses or grown ups to scold — It’s lovely to be a birthday girl When you’re only four years old. IF I WERE RICH. (Sent by Kathleen Travers.) If I were rich I ? d. have a bee And have it’s honey for my tea. If I were rich I’d buy a horse And have a little foal, of course; But most of all I’d like a lot Of red geraniums in a pot. THE FLAG. (Sent by Mary Young.) The flag is Red and White and Blue. I know some more about it, too: The Red says Love, the Blue says True, The White says Pure in all we do. APPLE-DUMPLINGS. (Sent by Rex Harrop.) I wanted apple-dumplings, But do you know what came? A rice pudding! Rice pudding! Wasn’t it a shame! It isn’t that I’m greedy, But, oh, it isn’t nice To wish for apple-dumplings And find it’s only rice! When I can make puddings I’ll choose them for myself, And keep the rice and such-like Hidden on the shelf; The sago and the cornflour, I’ll put them all away, And we’ll have apple-dumplings For dinner every day. CURLY LOCKS. (Sent by Patricia Cook.) Curly Locks, Curly Locks, wilt thou be mine? Thou shalt not wash dishes, not yet feed the swine; But sit on a cushion and sew a fine seam, And feast upon strawberries, sugar and cream. SICK FAMILY. Pussy dear, can you hear, I'm dreadfully in the dumps, Molly’s ill with measles and Matilda’s ill with mumps. And Tommy’s down with toothache and a face all swelled in lumps. Can you wonder, pussy, that I’m dreadfully in the dumps? Cuddle here, closer dear, I want to talk to you. Isabel, I'm positive, is sickening for the ’flu. Trixie’s got a temperature, sftie’s shedding sawdust, too, Can you wonder, pussy, that I don’t know what to do? “THOUGHT” READING. Hand a piece of paper and pencil to a friend and say: “I am going out of the room, and' while I’m gone write something on the paper, then put it in your pocket. When I come back, on another piece of paper I’ll write exactly the same as .you.” When your friend has written something and put it in her pocket, you stalk in, looking very wise, and on a piece of paper you write, “Exactly the same as you.” Then give it to your chum and she will see that you have written what you said you would. A clever catch.