VERSES BY JOHN OXENHAM.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12081, 9 August 1917, Page 8

VERSES BY JOHN OXENHAM.

The dedication of Mr John Oxenham's " The Vision Splendid " is indicative of the ispirit vivifying these verses by the author of "Bees in Amber." Tho book is dedicated "To all those who are looking forward . . . to the emergence from the present! t li-"'s iA' i! ( .Jsinos worthy of liod and humanity. ... " Mr Oxen-

ham sees the possibilities of a better world, and is urgent, in the foreword and in the verses, for all to "do their bit " in making the brotherhood of man a reality. The great work of the men in the trenches must bo

equalled in the direction of social bet- '■"<•(). Mr Uxi'iibnm's j s a fine enthusiastic optimism, hoping for everlasting gain out. of this great sacrifice, which is the simple, working out of inc\ it'-iM,. hi iv. The Kmnire, sunk in wealth and sloth has invited attack, and it must rise, by its own efforts. The poem which gives a, name to the booklet, has some fine verses:— " Hero—or hereafter —yon shall see is ended, This mighty work to which yoiiir souls aro sel.

If from beyond, then with a virion splendid You shall smile bark, and never know regret.

0 not in vain has boon your great endeavour, For V,y your dyinpa Life ip bom <o<?r.in, And prcn'or love hath no man tokened ever lhan with hi s life to purchnso Life's high fj r i n." Ho speak A of Kitchener : " Tho forthright glance Of those deep, nte.ndfn.ot ryes <m his Pierced like a aword Life's small hypocrisies And ssnv behind Iho graver urgencies." Tho verses are instinct with deep and practical religious liclief: — " If this be pood it shall abide, If not—best gone. Of that which stands not in His sight Wc will have none.'' Hp is practical:— " Perspiration you'll need if yon would succeed, And get the world's work woll done." In "Tho Churches" ho recognises tho folly of each tho other's hope denied." In " Kinsfolk " ho appreciates, the dominions :-»■ You have given m without stinting of your lives, your energies. . . . Knit your hearts to our heants henceforth for eveumore. 1 There are 96 pages of this little book, and jjian,y of the verscs will find an echo in Lho hearts of those who—or whose kin-- " have hcon in the sweep of tho Reaper's scythe, Have seen tho devil at play." His religion does not prevent him from .inveighing bitterly against Ormany, tho foe who knows:--

So lufw of fiod or man but In'? necessity, Whoso word is wind, wlms>e. treaties )ii»:>or spoiled ; His pledges—cover for his treacheries; Hie acts, the, routings of n. hog in mirr; His hrmd no honest man can tnkc. Until lie cleiinso it. of Iho accursed stain.' 1 To the opponents of Germany he com. mends the example of John Tranes Cornwell, tho lw>y on the Chester, who, mortally wounded, stayed at his post till tho end of the Jutland action :- " 'No thought of glory to be, won, Thorn was his duty to lw dona— And he did it." Hie volume is published by Methuen and Co. Price, Is in England.