Selected Poetry.

Western Star, Issue 930, 14 March 1885, Page 1 (Supplement)

Selected Poetry.

WINTER. The spring and the summer have vanished, The autumn days swiftly are fleeting. And soon the cold blastsoi the winter Will sweep through the shivering branches— The bare and the leafless branches. Soon shall a pale cold mantle Cover the fields and the hedgerows; Soon shall the breath of midnight Harden the face of the waters. The spring and the summer have vanished, The autumn days swiftly are fleeting, And where are the birds that in gladness Filled the whole world with their music ? Where are the flowers that in beauty Perfumed the air with their fragrance P Swift have they fled in their terror Before the dark frown of the winter. Thej spring and the summer have vanished, Thftbutumn days swiftly are fleeting, And where are the hopes of my childhood ? The hopes aud the dreams of my childhood; Scattered are they, as in autumn. The brown, dead leaves are scattered— Swept like the tender blossoms Before the chill breath of the tempest. Soon shall a pale snowy mantle Cover thy sorrowing tresses, Boon the sweet flowers of “ God’s Acre ” Above me shall blossom and wither. Oh I the winter of life is coming, The oheeerless and friendless winter. Hope A. Thomson,

FORGOTTEN 1 Forgotten! As I mingle with the crowd, And mark th’ unchanging smile on ev ry face. • # . Mine eyes grow dim, mine unblest head is bowed— I am not known, and strangers fill my place. In youthful days, when Hope was fair and young, ' And wide Ambition made the world its throne, Friends, parents, sisters, fondly to me clung— But now I am forgotten and alone 1

Yet, in the world of wealth and commerce, men Look up to me as into judgments eye— Others o'erwhelm me with their prayers and when „ I give them gold, " How good is he 1 they cry. Some would be friends, and, bending sees my gates; Others, with envy breathing, curse my name j While gloom, dark burden, on my spirit waits, ■ /.'And tears are dropt o’er loveless, unshared fame. : (j ■ ■ - # The' spot whereon our cottage stood is now A grassy mound, beneath whose sods there K sleep . , , eoft; hapd could Cool my fevered brow, :■#< ■ And he, my father proud—alas, I weep I My sisters and companions, I they have found In distant places some fond heart to share G?heir happy homes, wherein each joyous sound Swells through the heart like songs of sum- ; mer air. I think on this my destiny, and own That when -X had my peace I prized it not j And what 1 reap have 1 not also sown Through years of silence? Thus am I forgot! Misguided youth, thou soughtest that which gives, • . Like rooms long tenantless, an icy emu Unto the heart, which ever alter Jive Dissatisfied—a void that naught can fill. And afterwards the joys may come or go— JJke lamps before an empty shrine they flit; . As when a day ill spent fades out, just so jfades out Life’s charm, if gold haih woven it. Paul Michel.