AMONG THE POETS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11805, 16 September 1916, Page 8

AMONG THE POETS.

TOWARDS THE MORNING. Unknown, unknowing, thro' the nigh!, ■ I tvo scjo.is o* nionoital race I btiove, g.appling, aught with utmost might,, j In fell, implacable embrace. Each foug.'t avenging Hie dUgrnco Of outlawed Truth and trampled Right. ! At davbicak, by the wan .sad light, j Each looked into a Sister's lace. I Professor C. U. Jtlerfoid, in "The i Nation " I | W lIAT T LIVE FOR. , I Jive for these that love me, J For those I know are true; For the heaven that smiles above, me. And awaits my spirit too; For all human ties that bind me, For the task my God assigned me. For tho bright hopes left behind tne. And the good that can do. I live to learn their story Who've suffered lor my sake, , To emulate their glory, ! And foihnv in their wake; j Hards martyrs, patriots, sages, ! Th<> noblest of all ages, Whore deeds crown history's patten, And time's great volume make. I live to hail that season i By »ifted minds foretold. V hen "men shall live by reason, i And not alone for fold; ! When man to man united. And every wrong tiling righted, i Tho wb de world '-' I I be lighted As Fden was of old. I live to hold ccimrunion With all ti nt is divine, To feel that there is union .< 'Twist nature's heart and mine. To profit by affliction. - Heap truths from Ii Ids of fiction, I Grow wiser f'om conviction—i Fulfi'lng Cod's design. 1 I live fir those that love me, I For those that know p true; ' For the heaven that smi.es above me, I And av. aits my spirit too; _ j {for the wrong that needs resistance, I, For the cause that lacks assistance, For the future in the distance. And the good that I can do. -Rev Linnffius Banks.

THE VISION OF THE WONDEKFI L MILES. Over the distance ot vanishing, years, We look back with smi.es that are blended wit.i ve«rs. And over the journey of Wearisome We look back with tears into.mingled with smiles. Recalling tho Days that, had we but known, . Cur arms should have cherished, before they had flown. We look back with joy at the keenness wo knew When our youth was full-vigoured, and enterprise grew. At the davs when with glamour all life seemed a part—. At the days ere was known tho ,-egret of the heart,. We look back with thankfulness deep for love gained— That Flower whose fragrance the Years have retai.ied. And, blessing the Vision of TV onderful Mf'es, We gaze at the Years,—rich with tears and with .smiles. —From '' lied Roses," by Helen Ca.ew.

PAGAN ODE. In the dim catacombs of long ago 'lhs dead gcdb lie, who lived and 'ruled an age, And who. like puppets in a shadowshow. Loitered fantastically across th<\ stage. T'nto the/ wings of death, and eo werf gone. And death is equally the heritage Of all the deities who rule today S.ive one. save only one: A goddess whose iimacraiv.ented sway G.ves all the centuries her bonison. Her name is Bea lty: Sole authentic queen Of ah the universe!. The one bright star Of constancy that shines remote," serene, Above the plaint of peaCe and peaks of war! A wonder-light to lead the -vildered soul Through mazy life to what great goal afar I A deity to whom no temples ris©, No dolorous musics roll, Nor any sacrificial sorrow cries, And whom no cloistered servitors cajole To whom no temples rise; and yet her shnna Is everywhere. The rainbow-raftered Kl:y Is her w** n dome; and all the star? oombino To jewel it with changing tracery. And she has many an altar; morninglight; The faery plaidies of n butterfly ; Rubies and roses, icebergs in the sun: And I.ghtnings in the n ; ght; Laughter; ;ind laughing clean cascades that run From ernnite mountains; and a clean-fought fight. A gaudy sunset on a level sea : Lagoons among the hills; and silver sand; Gold of the wattle: and the greenery Of gum-trees after rain; green palmtrees fan or.d By lazv t ades; white scho.mers; and thd ;'low And stately dancers of a saraband; A pampered racehi rse; aeroplanes that rise Like rccs of long ago; A sc!ioo'b■>>-, trotting homeward with ti jhizo; And sun-brown surfers on a beach of snow. And many another: tyrian-tinted fans; Old moonlit moautu.us ; i.uiphur caves and caves Beamv with glo.v-worms; hurrying caravans Of ants; a roya! wine; mosaic paves; The calm "contentment in the doting . eyes OF new voting mothers: galloping, hordes of v> aves ; Comets," that run ;n starry steeplechase Across the rolling skies; — These are her suactuaries, most commonplace And vrt more wonderful than all surmise. And Earth is her bright censer, slowly swung In splendour-teeming halls of night and day. And deities and angels move among The worsh ppers who walk her iiowery way. And all the sweet and n.Jghtv rriuica are An antheming r>f her benignant sw*r. The plapets bow to her-an all-su-preme. A Sll : re i • stir! \ w, '..u ij . sid th'» seas of di'ea ir Slum. ' on what my.-Zierinns land afar, l - jLsu!lik'..in. ,: I