VERSE OLD AND NEW

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 9, 2 March 1907, Page 30

VERSE OLD AND NEW

At Anchor. Wi-'i-c anchored at last, my heart and I, Anil rock at peace 'neatli a star-lit sky. Ah' never a thought of n danger past. Nor ever a fear of careening mast. Call mar onr comfort as waves lap by, For now we're anchored, my heart and I. Oh. dark was the voyage, grim the blast, TAnil threat'ning the billows racing past! Hope’s star was quenched. Faith's compass lost. Alone on a menacing sea we tossed. While anon in tho tempest Death drew nigh . , . . , r But now we're anchored, my heart and 1. Tile country of Ix>vc lies fast before; What matters to ns our broken oar? The wreckage and woe of the voyage past, Ixrve's mariner comes to his own at last. And so we pray as we quiet He. God keep us anchored, my heart and I. •—Grace dune .Tones. © © © What Mother Tells Me. When mother was a little maid Siu- was so very good--I really often Iblnk that she Must' have been made of wood. She never, never, played a trick On her pet pussy "Tib”; She would not tease; she would not tell The tiniest little lib. She always kept her dresses clean; Her curls were brushed Just right; She never cried and coaxed that she Might stay up late at night. - Ami very often, when I've been In mischief ami been bad. i I think. - Ain't it an awful shame That 1 took after dad?” © © © In a Luther Burbank Garden. White are the coreless apple buds, As vein- hand in mine I clasp. Ami we wander through the. eyeless spuds And the raspberries, suns rasp. Yon plucked a blackberry', dazzling white. As we chanted a tuneless rune, ■” Ami 1 took a luscious, soulful bite z of a pitiless.. aki.ul.ess prune.,. , -, The cactus plant ne'er cackles now. As its teeth have all been drawn. Ami calm there falls upon your brow The light of a sunless dawn. In this dear place I would live for aye, Tdscnssing the whyless how, And speeding the minuteless horns by. From the path of the pathless now. © © © The River of Stars. Me river flows through glen ami glade. Bv meadows bright and woodland shade, 111 reedv pools and pebbly rills, With sting and laughter from the lulls. Its lower reaches teem with trade. Wfth cities grim its banks are laid; The navies of the world may ride Safe harboured on its ample tide. A thousand moods my river knows Of summer suits and winter snows; Now black with storm, now glistening -bright. Now molten with the sunset light. But when the fading twilight haze Its tnagie liaml upon it lays, And conies the night, no season mars My river of the myriad stans. Oh. dream of jewels iiiisurpassed Upon its sapphire bosom cast! The heights, ihe piers, the ships, the shore Adil to the hoard a countless store; Th * glowing wake behind n« whirls, A seething furrow white with pearls; And every hollow. every wave. Is Sinbad’s vale, Aladdin’s cave. The summer day of sweet content I pon your sunny hillsides spent. The winter gray, and autumn gold. Ami spring with beauties manifold; The heat of noon, the cool of dawn, The glory of the sunset gone. Time never dims, nor distance mftrs — But perfect- night-time and the stars! - Charles (’olenißu Stoddart. © © © The Return. He sought Ihe (dd scenes wit it eager feet— The scenes he had known as a boy ; Oh for a draught of tln»se fountains sweet. And a taste of that vanished Joy.” He roamed the fields, be mused by the streams. , lie threaded the paths and lanes. On the hills lie sought his youthful dreams, in tlie woods to forget his |»alns. Oh, sad. sad hills ; oh, cold, cold heart hlTn sorrow he learned thy truth — On? may go back to the place of his birth--s lie ran not go back to his youth.

The Shepherds Wife’s Soug. Ah, what is love? It is a pretty thing. As sweet unto a shepherd as a king; And sweeter too. — For kings have cares that wait upon a crown. And cares- can make the sweetest love to frown: And then, ah then, if country loves such sweet desires do gain, What lady would not low a shepherd swain? His flocks are folded, he comes home at n‘wht, As merry as a king in his delight; And merrier, too. For kings bethink them what the state require. Where shepherds careless carol by the fire. And then, ah then. If country loves such sweet desires do gain, What lady would not love a shepherd swain? He kisseth first, then sits as blithe to eat His cream and curds as doth the king his meat: And blither, too, For kings have often fears when they do sup. When shepherds dread no poison in their cup: . And then, ah then. If county loves such sweet desires do gain, What lady would not love a shepherd swain? Upon his couch of straw he sleeps as sound. As doth the.king upon his bed of down; More sounder, too, For cares cause kings full oft their sleep to spill, Where weary shepherds lie .and snort their fill: And then, ah then. If country loves such sweet desires do gain, What lady would not love a shepherd swain? —ROBERT GREENE, 1590. © © © My Rosary. » (Transcribed from stenographic notes taken during the rendition, of, the ballad . by ■Mr. Ifowlitt Owte, the eminent baritone.) Thee yourzi spen twitli E e e; ; dear Art, • Are razza string of pearl stew me; * I count theh mo vuvrey ree.wunna part-— My row sirree! My row sirree! E-e-e chow ray purr leech purr lay prair To filla har 'tiiOab sense rung; I tell eech be dun two the. y end Dan there across iz sung. O mem mow reeze that bless sand burr No ba hr ran gay Nau bit her law Sigh kill sech been Dan stry vat lass two learn Tewk iss the craw swee! Tar! To kih sss! thee craw; Sas! © © © My Sweetheart Wife. ’Tis very sweet as the world goes ill To know you are faithful and love me stiil. To feel when the sunshine has left the skies The light stiil shines in your dear eyes. It is very sweet to see you near. When life with its cares seems bard to bear; To feel when I falter the clasp divine Of your tender and kindly hand in mine. Sometimes to each the world goes wrong, And the birds forget th'dr joyoun song. But listen, dear one. while you live The world has something sweet to give. Together may we onward go Thro' all the years of weal and woe. Loving each other till Death shall part— Ev£r and always my own sweetheart. © © © Her Christmas Wreath. “I would not wear the laurel,” said the dear, coquettish inaid. “For of the pathway leading unto fame I am afraid: The cedar is too sombre, and the holly is too gay: I will not wear the willow, and I cannot wear the hay: The rose is out of season, and the lily, too, and so. I think, on Christmas eve I’ll wear a wreath of mistletoe!” © © © Not in E Z Street Young Fissick’s got a shingle out Proclaiming him M.D. ; But from A.M. to late P.M. His office is M.T. © © © The Naked Truth Truth and Falsehood went to swim. Leaving clothes on river's brim. Falsehood dressed up in Truth's clothei— That is why Truth naked goes. Truth Im modest—you’ll not meet Naked Truth upon the street.