Original Poetry.

Wanganui Herald, Volume II, Issue 399, 11 September 1868, Page 2

Original Poetry.

THOUGHTS ABOUT THeT^^ ■ natives.

Here, in these regions of the rising day, A savage race in mental darkness stray, isot iipward gazing with the conscious glow . Of Heaven's high patent stamped upon their brow; ■ r But coming like abortions to their birth And darkening with their crimes the glorious earth; Shrink into pigmies in the fervid ray Obscurely live, and darkly pass awa^ Here Nature, when she reared her mighty Sported with many things—but most with man— • Gave him a mind to tower above the rest Hut left-it slumbering in a darkened ! • breast; - . : ... , ? ... ! Lavished her holiest treasures onhissiaht But wrapt them in an intellectual ni4t • I lung beauty, like a pearl, before his lyes! But made him reckless of the precious prize ; r.,. And while along creation music ran, She placed no echo in the heart of man • Yet on his forehead sits the seal sublime' That makes him monarch of his lovely I clime; . -■ - j And in his torpid spirit lurks the seeds (Vf manly virtues and of lofty deeds. . Within that breast, where savage I shadows roll, ° Philosophy discerns a noble soul, "''■ ; That, like the lamp within an Eastern I tomb, But looks more sickly'mid surrounding '■ gloom. Full many a feeling trembles through his frame, For which he never knew or sought a . name;. " . . ° ' And many a holy thought but half snpprest, Still lurks 'mid all the tempest of his I breast. Pants not his heart with human hopes and fears— And is he not the child of singes and tears ? 'Tis love that links him to his native woods; Proud swells his bosom while he breasts the floods, And dory guides him. felt, but undefined, To battle with the breakers and the wind ; To tempt the torrent, or in arms to claim, The savage splendour of a warrior's name, Despite the smart of death—the sport of life, "Which mingles brothers in the mortal strife; Despite the maddening shout and savage Of foes exulting o 'er the foe who fell ; The raging spirit of the first-b >m C;iin, The lurking treason skulking from the plain; The horrid feast, where human flesh is food, The burning thirst whose dreadful draught is blood. Oh ! could we wnnder through their w<!ods and hear The quiet mu.-ic sweetly murmuring there; • ° Then might the bigot flash the doubts away, That darkly hang round mercy's stniggling ray, And the proud child of Europe stretch his hand, To clasp a brother in this distant land. Wanganui, Sept. 11, 1868. \