Selected Verse

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19457, 22 December 1934, Page 13 (Supplement)

Selected Verse

HEAVEN. Heaven, through the storm-rent skies of time revealing Visions designed by man’s death-fearing mind To hallow his carnal heritage with healing. Heaven, the last word upon their lips for .whom No morning star shall burn, beyond that whisper Going lo look for angels in the gloom. Heaven, the reward of racked renunciation, When in the body’s broken wayside shrine The spirit in its ultimate aspiration Shares llie world-sacrifice and dies divine. —SIEGFRIED SASSOON. KNAPATON WEATHERCOCK. So high it strutted in the sun, A man could sec it plain * From five miles off, a golden bird Upon a glittering vane. No common fowl; you’d swear it was An eagle come to roost. That once had clapped heraldic wings In front of Caesar's host! And who that had not seen it flee Headlong before a gale. Or veer when little puffs of wind Put salt upon its tail. Would ever dream such warlike boast So vain a lliing could he. And golden crest and spurs but stand For arch inconstancy? 0 lovely I rail or. where’s the man Thai does not long with you To ride Hie heavens like a king, \nd changing, still lie true! —lt. N. IJ. WILSON. ON A FILM MAGNATE. “.In-licious pandering to Ihe cult of itisl of eye brought you much wealth: let with. alas, but one result You made an eyesore of yourself. —Frank Eyre.

' SONNETS. “Should- this end now it were ’t/he end of light, . That would no longer reach -an earth receded; And the grey death of odour; and a blight On taste and touch, with every sound unheeded. 1 'could no longer count the falling days, . Nor weigh, an ounce of sorrow out to pain; It were the end of knowledge when the ways , Of feelings are as reason to the brain. Should it end suddenly—but I am wrong. Nothing so invisible -can shatter. Our love is not an object, like the long Gold band of time, that is the purest matter. But that is something different, and slow, And closes gradually, as the senses go. There will be nothing now but one clear tone, Of which we shall not -tire; and when it pauses We shall exist upon love’s faith alone. That knows all silence to its deepest causes; And comprehends the ever devious ways I still must follow as I sing your praise." —Mark Van Ooren. i SECOND SUMMER. At lasi I lie leaves go streaming on the wind, AI last the sea, once like an azure lloor. Shows grey ami hitter with a brow foamlined, While -clouds mount guard beside 1 lie Sl.orm-lving’s door: Summer's green garment has been rent across, Torn into shreds, discoloured by llie rain, And hangs, win'd*-tattered, on the hostile gorse: iier llowers and glory will not come again. Bui no rage long endures, and soon Hie isle Will face a plachl sea and soft-lined sky. Dawning will bring new peace and a calm smile Will pari flic close-pressed lips of Memory. When Autumn looks on mists and dews that fall. Remembering, and regret ling not nl all. —Trevor ISlakemorc.