THE POETS’ CORNER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20168, 9 June 1928, Page 8 (Supplement)

THE POETS’ CORNER

DANCING. (Copied). Dancing through the garden, Dancing down the lafte, Through the daisy meadow. And round and hacK again. Is there any dancing more wonderful and sweet, Than dancing in the sunshine With the flowers about your feet? Dancing on the kerbstone. Dancing in the rain, Down the mud<iy pavement. And round and back again. Here's a dance more wonderful Dancing in a street. With wind and rain about you, And old boots upon your feet! —From “MRS WISHING-TO-BE," Mataroa. THE TASK. (Original). Now- the bed-time bell is ringing. And my poem’s just begun ; Perfect now her way is winging. To inquire if I have done. O, the bell is madly ringing And the other girls are singing For they’ve finished —everyone. O, to have the brains for writing Pretty poems, pretty poems. For indeed my life they're blighting Pretty poems, pretty poems, O, to be a bird alighting. Or some distant land be sighting, Free from hateful tasks of writing Silly poems, silly poems. Now the bell has stopped its ringing. And my poem is still undone. While the other girls are bringing All the good work they have done. I to these made lines am clinging. And my weary brain am wringing. For the rhymes that ne’er will come. —From “TAUKATAU.” SPRING (Copied) Little children in the meadow, Little people in the lanes, Looking for the first sweet primrose. Threading long white daisy chains, Peeping at the baby birdies. Hiding 'neath their mother’s wing, Little laughing, happy children Playing in the sunny Spring. —from “DEWDROP,” Marton. A CHINESE NURSERY SONG The mouse ran up the candlestick To eat the grease from off the wick. When he got up he could not getdown. But squeaked to waken all the town. —From “TARATA,” Ruakaka. CATCHING THE ROBIN WITH SALT (Copied) Arabella saw a robin Perched upon a rail. She ran to get a bit of salt To put upon his tail. The saucy robin gave a chirp, And w-ith a smile he said, “I don’t take salt. Miss Bella, But I’d like some crumbs instead.” —From “ICELAND POPPY,” Marton. THE FOUR SEASONS (Original First comes Winter, cold and dreary. Clothed in sombre grey. With an icy crown, a robe of snow This monarch greets the day! Then comes Spring, a lively maiden With roses in her hair, Violets shyly peep from out her gown ; Joy is everywhere! Summer, gay and spritely damsel— Free of care her brow. Comes with laughter, happy-hearted, Gladness reigns just now. Radiant Autumn, leaves her chaplet. Robed in russet brown. Holds a cluster of ripe berries On her dainty gown. —From “SHIMMERING CASCADE.”

RIDDLES What three letters turn a boy into a man? —A.G.E. Why is a dog with a sore leg like a boy at arithmetic?—When he puts down three ant carries one. When is a glass like an acrobat?—When it is a tumbler. Why is a turkey a wise bird?—Because he never makes a goose of himself. What is always hot in cold weather ? Mustard. From what country did eats first come ? - From Purr-sia. From “SWEET PEA,” Utiku. What kind of table do we cook and eat? ■ —Vegetable. Why is the end of G never short ?—Because it always ends “long.” What kind of pets do we sometimes cat?— Crumpets. What is smaller than the mouth of the smallest germ?-—The things it eats. Why is the letter F like a banana skin?— Because they both make all fall. When is a rock not a rock ?—When it is a sham-rock. —From “DAISY BELL,” Mangaweka. What is the difference between a hen and a ship ?—A hen lays an egg and a ship lays to (two). When is a Scotchman like a donkey ? When he stands on his banks and braes (b«s). Have you ever seen a bun dance ? —Yes, I have often seen abundance. Which is the strongest day in the week ? Sunday, because all the rest are week days. I am pushed about all day and yet I never drop; I am in everybody’s way and yet no one I stop. My four arms each day point in every way and my head is screwed on at the top ?—A turnstile. Which is the smallest country in Ireland? — Cork, because it will go into a bottle. Why is the nose of a cow like my nose?— Because it is ou the biggest flat in Rata. Why did the bath ? —Because it saw the white wash. —From “EASTER EGG," Rata. Why would lawyers make good soldiers? — Because they are always ready to charge. What river should we cross when writing?— We should cross the Tees (t’s). If a strong wind was blowing and a tree fell on the windows of a cottage what would the windows say?—Tree mend us (tremendWhat is the difference between a bottle of medicine and a naughty boy ?—One should be well shaken before taken and the other should be taken and well shaken. —From “LILY OF THE DELL,” Marton. What letter is not in the alphabet?—The letter you post. Has a mouth yet never eats, a bed in which it never sleeps ?—A river. What goes up white and comes down yellow?—An egg. JUMBLED WORDS Towns of New Zealand. —1. Uormaa. (Oamaru). 2. Rgeosnri (Gisborne). 3. Hlbmeien (Blenheim). Girls’ Names —I. Captiar (Patrica). 2. Noseehpij (Josephine). 3. Goriemar (Margorie). OUR SAILOR BOY (Original) “Ah, ah, I'm a jolly old sailor-boy. Just in from the good blue seas. For you see I am on a holiday. And its to last for six weeks, if you please. “z\ jolly good time I’ll be having, nl less than an hour or a day : Because I have saved some money, That will help me on my way. On my back I do carry a “bluey” That is tied with a piece of string. For I do not care who looks at me Even if it is a “Sin.” Well, my work on the boat is a-scrubbing The decks of the huge grey ship. With a bucket or so of hot water And a broom that would give you the “pip.” —From “LAUGHING LILAC,” Taihape.