POETRY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3799, 18 June 1880, Page 3

POETRY.

EXCELSIOR. Steadily, steadily, step by step, Up the venturous builders go ; Carofully placing stone upon stone, Thus the loftiest temples grow. Patiently, patiently, day by day, The artist toils at his work away ; Touching it hero and touching it there — Giving it ever with infinite care A line more soft, and a hue more fair — Till little by little tho picture grows, And at last the cold canvas glows With life and beauty and forma of grace, Which evermore in fcho world have place. Thus writes the poet— hour after hour, He listens to catch the fairy chimes That ring on his soul, then wifch magic power He weaves them softly iuto rhymes, Slowly, carefully, word by word, Line by line, and thought by thought, lie fastens the golden lie-sue of song, And thua are immortal anthems wrought. Every wise observer knows, Every watchful gazer sees That nothing grand or beautiful grows Save by gradual, slow degrees Ye who toil with purposo high, And fondly the proud result await, Murmur not, as tho hours go by, That the season is long and the harvest is late. Remomber that Brotherhood, strong and true — Builders aud Artists and Bards sublime— Who lived in tho past and worked like you, Worked and wailed a wearisome time : Dark and cheerless and long the night, Bufc they patiently work'd at their task begun, Till, lo ! thro' the clouds broke tho mornine liglit 6 That shines on the soul when success is won