Among the Poets

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17170, 13 October 1923, Page 5 (Supplement)

Among the Poets

i * II ij A Bouquet of Verses [ ; MIDNIGHT OVER OKAIN’S BAY. Blackness above and moonless sky, And panoply of nimbus cloud : Darkness lias pitched his nomad tent on high, And o’er his landscape bed has drawn his shroud. No gentle star obtrudes her trembling light, And challenge flings to the o’erbrooding night. The hamlet lying in the dark - Save for a gleam that scars the night, Where, hap, some sufF’rer waits for Charon’s bark. Or watches wearily for morning light— The ceaseless plashing of a broken rill, And mystery of darkened flat and bill. The bent of unseen waves below, And out at sea a ghostly grey j Night-flying seabirds shrilling as they g°And phosphorescent gleam of fish at play ; And flowing lido with ever-grasping reach. And rippling laughter, creeping up the beach. i i Lyttelton. E.A.I. SUNSET AND LOVE, Sunset through pine tree tops ■ Spills its golden light o’er all, ! Over the quiet stillness I I hear a bird’s low call. Love through our hopes and fears ! Shines bright* though shadows may fall, Out of its perfect deepness I hear a soul's great call. Sunset has love in the rays l That gild the tips of the pine, i And Love has its sunset days, Fondly sad heart, of mine, j ‘ F.F. Christchurch. September 25. MOTHER ! i | ! Oh ! would some muse the gift impart To tell how well she plays her part— For others— God bless that kind and gentle heart— Of mother’s. ; YY hen I am with dull care distraught, I She probes my heart, she knows the thought, Unhinted, j Her sympathy is to me brought, j Unstinted. Where’er T wander here below, ; Her love doth ever with me go, Unstraying : | And cv’ry day for me I know, She praying. Her love will ne'er from me depart, She who doth work with guileless artI For others—- | God bless that kind and gentle heart Of mother’s. ™ • , A.S.C. | Christchurch, October ]. ’TIS GOOD. j ’Tis good to see thy winsome face, j "Which docs all loveliness adorn. So matchless in its charm and grace, i AH smiling like a summer’s morn. I ’Tis good to hear thy pleasant voice. With wisdom’s chosen words discreet: | Its music makes my heart rejoice, j Love whispers in its cadence sweet. | ’Tie good to see thy lovely eyes. Like flashing gems of rich sapphire. ! Bright as the blue of cloudless skies. Could mortal more than this desire' ’Tis good to feel they shapely hand. With gentle pressure lock in mine, To gladly know and understand That thou are mine, and T am thine. ’Tis good to see thy silken hair In wavy tresses smooth and long ; My love, thou are divinely fair— Dost thou to earth or heav’n belong? | ’Tis good to clasp thee in my arms. | And dream of bliss and joy to come ; j Thou’rt richly dight in wondrous i W T ith thee to live, sweet, shall be home. } ’Tis good to kiss thy ruby lips, i Which coyly hide bright rows of i The gods regaled on luscious sips—- ! Thou are my nectar, queen of girls. 1 "Tis good to think, my own sweet love, ; The years together we shall spend, ! Will fit us for that place above, ! Where joy’s sweet pleasures never end. | ’Tis good to know that soon the bells i Shall grandly peal our wedding chime. i High hope within my bosom swells—j Go haste that glad and happy time ! H. H. HEATLEY.

Harry: “Well, our vegetarian friend has been true to his principles.” Clarence: “ What has he done now?” Harry: “Wedded a. grass widow.”

“ That’s what I call a finished sermon.” said a woman to her husband as they wended their way home from church. “ Yes,” was the reply, “ but do you know, I thought it never would

Wife : “ Oh, George ! Mother lias just made up her mind to he cremated.” Husband (absent-mindedly)) : Very well, dear. Tell her to put on her tilings!”

She: “ .Tack, dear, T made you believe I wasn’t in earnest when I told you 1 didn’t mean what J said, didn’t I?” He: •‘ I believe so.” " Well—l take it all back.”

-»“ But why are you pawning all your nightshirts?” “I have got a job as night watchman.”

Jones: “ You say she is proud?” Jenkins: “Proud? Why, that woman wouldn’t read a serial story because she would have to buy it on the instalment iilan !” • • •• Is that man still at work in the cellar. Bridget?” “ That’s what he is. Too still at it. In fact, m’m, he’s asleep.” New Reporter: ’ What was the worst financial panic you ever went through, Air Moneybags ?” Mr Moneybags: • Lot me see. Coming homo one night in the trnmear somebody dropped a shilling and seven people claimed it.” “ T tell you, my boy, the man who marries my daughter gains a prize!” • By Jove—jolly good idea—what! Is it—or— a cash prize or just a silver Husband : “ T don’t see why it was necessary to call the doctor when the baby had only a trifling cough.” Wife: Well, dear, T asked the doctor, and he said I did right.” It was a pessimist who, upon finding a roll of pound notes, turned them over with his foot and exclaimed: “Just my rotten luck: not a fiver amongst them !” First Clubman: “I tell my wife everything. absolutely everything!” Second clubman : ‘‘ Ever tell her a lie?*’ ' Didn’t I sav I tell her everything?” A country cabby, on coming to a hill, got down and violently banged the uoor, to the consternation of his fai-e inside, who asked what he did mat l’or, and received the reply: *' Why, sir. it s to make the horse believe you’ve got out.” ‘' T would be mighty willing to work,” Dismal Dawson explained, “if j was only able.” “ You look ablebodied enough.” said the sharp-nosed lady. ** What is there to prevent your working?” “Me pride.” “ I wouldn’t have missed your sermon to-night for £10,” said a gentleman to the clergyman. And yet when the plate was sent round the same man only put in threepence. “ Mother, shall I run out and poet this letter? ’ asked a little girl of six years. “ No, child, certainly not,” was the reply. “ It’s raining in torrents. and not- fit to turn a dog out of doors. Let your father go.” “ Why do you object to children m the houses which you have to let?” “ As a matter of kindness. People who are raising families can’t bo expected to pay tile rent I require.” Employer (finding bis clerk asleep at his desk) : “ Look here. Meyer, you can clear out at the end of the month.” Clerk (peevishly;: “ Well, you needn’t have called me so soon tor that.” Mr s X. : “ How is your husband getting on ut golf?” Mrs Y. : "Aery well indeed. The children are allowed to watch, him now.” News agent: “ Tneed a boy about your size, and will pay you three shillings a week.” Boy: “ Will I have any opportunity of rising?” “ Ob, yes. You must be hero at five o’clock every morning.” The Maiden: “ Wasn’t your life constantly in danger Travelling through the forest filled with those terrible lions and tigers?” “ Why, certainly not!” returned the traveller. “ There wasn’t a single motor-car in the whole forest to dodge.” Binks: “There’s something in his face I don’t like.” Blinks: “It must be that cheap cigarette he is smoking.” A young man was walking past a row of maisonettes in process of construction. A workman on the roof called out: “Want one of these, mister?” ‘“No. thanks,” 'said the- young man, •‘ I .don’t keep rabbits.’* Tom: “Why lias old Jones got a notice on his allotment near the river, “Excellent ground for bait’?’* Bill: “ Why the anglers will dig over the whole of that land for him befor the early summer.”