Among the Poets A Bouquet of Verses

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17246, 12 January 1924, Page 19

Among the Poets A Bouquet of Verses

THE TWILIGHT TRAIL. j Over the mountain and through the burning and deep in the marshy fired and grimy and hot and happy, we have mine to the end of the hard, sweet day; Only the length of the lake to paddle, only a stretch of dim forest to breast, Camp is against the eon set hill—firelight and food and home and rest. !XTie alders part in a swaying arch; ; homing waters lie close at hand ; l (Guides slip past with canoes on their heads—harkl how the keela grate soft in the sand. Only the lake and the last portage—then a camp-fire star will shout to us hail! and low, two voices T know come up behind in the twilight trail. .laird, when the end of the long trail comes, and I stand by an unfamiliar river, IWom out a bit, yet happy, likely, to drop the load on the sand for ever, X shall be very grimy, I think, soiled with the journey, traveller-wise. And the glory of Heaven—if I win it—will seem overbright to tired eyes, kord, I am hoping that out of Your j goodness You will send mo a f simpler Heaven at first, Before the blase of the angels’ whiteness, before the music's rapturous burst; Out hf Your own divine understanding. You’ll spare me the light of the blessed land. A* I trudge to the gate, a daned, tired pilgrim, and give me a Heaven 1 understand. You being God, Who can do it, I’m • hoping I'll come to a quiet forest ■ I know. j With its twilight hush and a late bird j calling, and down in tho west a , copper glow ; Alders will sway in an arch before me, and a rippled lake stretch iriendly and dear; | Silent mountains about the skyline, one j lavender peak pulsating clear; j Sweet and afar a camp-fire star will \ shine out a homely, welcoming I hail, _ While, laughing and low, two voices I ; know come close behind in the twi- | light trail. I W-Alary R. 8. Andrews, in * Scribner s. SUMMER. Across the Plains a whisper steals one i morn . . J That green-shod Spring has vanished | in a night j And garnered all her blossoms as she ; fled, < Which yesterday held up their petals . bright. ; l(Grone are the snowdrops, wet with j evening's dew. 1 The daffodils which swayed so gold- j enly • Are drooping sadly on the garden j beds. And blossom petals rain from every j tree. JThe soft green mantle shed by fleeting | Spring lies softly o'er the landscape once j so grey, And 'neath tts shelter brown buds i swell with life. While Nature holds a birthday every day. *The days move on, the swift and scorching wind Sweeps restlessly across the open Plain; 'The gardens pant with languor, droop until The cool of eve refreshes them again. i'And Night is fraught with magic, subtle scents Elusive, fragrant to the senses, creep; The moonbeams, peering shyly through the boughs. With silver fingers charm the flowers to sleep. And dreams are in the air, and Pan’s afoot. His reed-like note is wafted by the breeze. Who steps—a drowsy goddess—from her conch And 6ways in idle mood tho waiting trees. O, Summer! In your hand Enchantment weaves As strong a web as ever weaver span. To hold enraptured at your sun-brown-ed feet. In flower-wreathed bonds, the captive heart of Man! L. A. SUNLEY. Christchurch.

MY COUNTRY.

There is a land, of every land the pride. Beloved by Heaven o'er all the world beside. Where brighter suns dispense serener light, And milder moons imparadise the night; A land of beauty, virtue, valour, truth. ‘ Time-tutored age, and love-exalted youth; ’ The wandering mariner, whose eye cxplores • The wealthiest isles, the most enchanting shores, • Views not a realm so bountiful and fair, ‘Nor breathes the spirit of a purer air, every clime the magnet of his soul, Touched bv remembrance, trembles to . that pole • |Kor in this land of Heaven's peculiar ,race. ;The heritage of Nature's noblest grace, • There is a spot of earth supremely r'A dearer, 6weeter spot than all the i rest, |W"here man, creation's tyrant, easts i aside sword and sceptre, pageantry and , pride. While in his softened looks benignly blend The sire, the son, the husband, brother, friend. Here woman reigns; the mother, daughter, wife. Btrew with fresh flowers the narrow way of life ; In the clear heaven of her delightful eye An arovl-gnard of love and graces lie; Ar >nnd her domestic duties meet And fireside pleasures gambol at her feet. Where shall that land, that spot of earth be found?” 'Art thou a man? A patriot? Look around: Oh, thou shall find, howe’er thy footsteps roans. 1 hat land thv coiiutrv. .'(nil rhat spot