SELECTED VERSE
“ THIS ENGLAND ”
A little isle of mountain and of meadow, Lady of heather, rose and grey sea. In this dim world of deepening storm and shadow Must not our hearts, O England, turn to thee? On thee, e're now acclaimed the queen of nations, The tortured peoples wait to seek release From jealous fears and selfish aspirations Amid thy sheltered ways of ancient peace. For the true path man’s troubled soul is groping; Be thou to him as tranquil lights that burn Far off to some tired traveller still hoping Homeward at last from exile to return. Crown the long magic of thy guided story With sovereign counsels generous and free, And let it be thy final page of glory That all men’s hearts, O England, turn to thee. —Canon S. A. Alexander.
SUMMER DAY
How shines the sun upon the bay, Splintering Its smooth breast into a thousand fragment bubbles Of radiance and light at play. How wheel the gulls against the sky, Falling They lie awhile in lazy drifts of white—then rise A swirl of snowflakes driven high. How lap the waves against the pier, Stilling My vague fret to quietude, born of rhythmic sound, Scarce heard, so tranquil to the ear. How springs the grass beneath my feet, Spreading Its buoyant carpet, ribbon green against the blue, With sun, and waves, and gulls—complete. How sings my heart amid it all, Pulsing With life and joy, a living part, at one with this Enchanting whole in beauty's thrall. —Betty Moore
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WT19400914.2.96.5
Bibliographic details
Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21218, 14 September 1940, Page 11 (Supplement)
Word Count
254SELECTED VERSE Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21218, 14 September 1940, Page 11 (Supplement)
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Waikato Times. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Log in