SELECTED VERSE

Waikato Times, Volume 104, Issue 17466, 28 July 1928, Page 13 (Supplement)

SELECTED VERSE

“THE NEW TRAIL.” Like a falcon loosed on a morning breeze, It swung from the Golden Gate; Threw hack the hills and the swaying trees, Rode over waves no seaman sees, And challenged the spite of Fate. “Out to our kinsfolk south, we go, To the Land of the Golden Sun.’’ They said: "Be the passage fast or slow, We blaze new trails for the world, and so Pray well that our task be done!” And the twinkling stars in an old world set, Blinked as the ’plane swept by, As if they’d say: “’Tis well we met; We’ll guard your course, should chilled hearts fret, By ocean or land or sky.” A trust well kept and the gauntlet run, And a ship at an aerodrome; Four stout hearts, a whole world's pride ! Never such course did the phantoms ride, And we shout them a '"welcome home! —W.O’N. THE MYSTERY. Lifcl I know not what thou art, But know that thou and I must part; And when, or how, or where we met I own to me’s a secret yet. Life! we’ve been long together Through pleasant and through cloudy weather; ’Tis hard to part when friends are dear — Perhaps ’twill cost a sigh, a tear; —Then steal away give little warning, Choose thine own time; Say not Good Night—but in some brighter clime Bid me Good .Morning. —A. L. Barbauld. THINK Sink not beneath imaginary sorrows; Call to your aid your courage and your wisdom; Think on the sudden change of human scenes; Think on the various accidents of war; Think on the mighty power of awful virtue; Think on that Providence that guards the good. —Johnson. PROUD MAISiE. Proud Masie is in the wood, Walking so early; Sweet Robin sits on the bush, Singing so rarely. Tell me, thou bonnie bird, When 1 shall marry me? When six draw gentlemen Kirkward shall carry ye. Who makes the bridal bed? Birdie, say truly. The gray-hcaded sexton That delves the grave duly. The glow-worm o’er grave and stone Shall light thee steady; The owt from the steeple sing “Welcome, ’proud lady.” —Scott. GREEN SEAS. All flecked with daisy foam the tide That rocks the lawny sea, Mi’ vessel waits; come, who will ride— A passenger—with me? You’re ’fraid of reefs and eddies, Or the gale is too severe? Ah, well, I’ll take my Teddies, For the darlings know no fear. Around the world we’ll journey', Past green coast and craggy shore; By islands fair and ferny Cast our anchor and explore. No doubt we’ll hidden treasure find, Strange beasts and pirates see. You’ll wish you hadn't stayed behind When home we sail to tea. LIFE THE SHADOW. Life a right shadow is; For, if it long appear, Then it is spent, and death's long night draws near. Shadows are moving light; And is there aught so moving as is this ? When it is most in sight It steals away, and none knows how or where: So near our cradles to our coffins arc. William Drummond, —- BY THE SEA. Why docs the sea moan evermore? Shut out from heaven it makes its moan, It frets against the boundary shore; Alt earth’s full rivers cannot fill The sea, that drinking thirsteth stili.

Sheer miracles of loveliness Lie hid in its unlooked-on bed: Anemones, salt, passionless, Blow flower-like; just enough alive To blow and multiply and thrive. —Christina 'Rossetti. HER TREADING WOULD NOT BEND A BLADE OF GRASS. Here she was wont to go; and here, and here; Just where those daisies, pinks, and violets grow: The world may Cnd the Spring by following her, For other print her airy steps ne’er left. Her treading would not bend a blade of grass, Or shake the downy blowball from his stalk; But like the soft west wind she shot along, And where she went the flowers took ■thickest root, As she had sowed them with her odorous foot. —Ben Jonson.