I STOOD UPON THE STRAND.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12081, 9 August 1917, Page 7

I STOOD UPON THE STRAND.

I stood upon the strand, and watched the rolling: tide Of mighty rushing billows o'er the ocean wide, The hurling, twirling waves that dashed upon the snoro > With venscancc in their strife, and thunder in their roar.

I saw far out, a ship, bereft of mast and helm, Great green waves environed, and threatened to o erwhelm, A derelict wa.s she, a drifting, battered wreck, No sign of life was there upon her wavewashed deck.

And as she neared the shore, she drifted on a rock, Her timber?, strained so sore, were shattered by the shook. And landward borne were parts of that once noble snip, Whose graceful form had sailed her last and fatal trip.

I stood upon the strand and heard the ocean roar. I watched the floating planks that slowly came ashore. Whilst louder howled the storm, and fierce the waves dashed high. And blacker grew the clouds that rolled across the sky.

The howling winds et last and mighty waves abate, "With music in its roll the ocean whisperslife; Ah, me! I wond'ring said, so like a human life; One day it is a calm, another it is strife.

One hour the tempests rise and drive us where they will. The next the billows cease, and all is calm and still, Like ships that roam the seas without a full control, Our frail frames are tossed by every billow's roll

Dark dangers lurk around the human vessel's course; No power on earth can stay their cruel and crushing force, Unless we're guided by a higher Pilot's hand. Our barks, are ever at the elements' command. I stood upon the strand, and watched the tide; I saw a well-manned ship across its bosom glide Into the harbour safe and sure thfl vessel sped, An emblem of the soul, that is through life* God-led, H. H. Heoilcr,