Verse Old and New

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XL, Issue 16, 15 April 1908, Page 50

Verse Old and New

The True and the Untrue. He was a dog But he stayed at home And guarded the family night and day. He. was a dog That didn’t roam. x He lay on the porch or chased the \ The tramp, the burglar, the hen I away; ! For a dog’r true heart for that house- • hold beat At morning and rvcning, in sold and heat. lie was a dog. He was a man AJid didn’t stay To cherish his wife and children fair. He 'vms a man Also A. W,’ day u His heart grew callous, its love-beats N, rare. • He thought of himself at the close of day And cigar in his fingers, hurried a way To the club, the lodge, the store, the show. But he s,* a fight to go, you know, lie was a man. !© © © T?he New King. A simple table is my throne, 1 hold a changing Court of four SA truer ne’er did monarch own). My, crown and sceptre is The Score, And they who erstwhile loved of yore The hundred fads they vaunted high, Cry me allegiance o’er and o'er— King Bridge., the #.dy king am I. All undisturbed I reign alone; I make the last new book a bore, The latest play a thing onkiiown; I devastate the ball-rcc door; The whizzing motor ear no more Can charm my faithful; I defy The lure of mountain, sea or shore — Iving Bridge, the only king am I. What though mv Subjects oft times moan, I take my tax of time and store; So zealous in my service grown Unheard thefr finished Lions roar; Romance stands begging at tj>. Joor ’’’Ttd Conversation turns to fly, What time I enter in. therefore, King Bridge, the only king am 1. L’ENVOI. Fair dames and gent lonian galore, The Croat God Chance I typify. So at my hands his grace implore— King Bridge, the only king am 1. THEODOSIA GARRISON. © © © Tetrazzini. Critics find your upper E Rather thin and heady. And your shake, they all agree, Isn’t steady. I Your cantabile is cold; Medium notes are pallid; And your method, we are told, Isn’t valid. Then, again, your rising scale’s Tremulous and throaty; Lower notes suggest the wails Of coyote. I Critics say you are somewhat Shy in cantilena. And your faults of ’’placing” blot Every scena. In a word, your voice is styled Wayward and uncertain; Yet your audience goes wild With the curtain. Full of faults your car«A|ing, Say the critics But ye ends! how you ean I’etruzzinin! r— 8.L.T., iu “I’uait.”

Coptical Confusion. Otnce a Coptic Filled his optic With a wind-blown bunch of dust. Then the Coptic Rubbed his optic And incontinently cust. An optician This ('optician Sought as quickly as he could. Soon this Coptic „ (With his optic Free of dust) was feeling good. So that Coptic With that optic Has seen double ever since, For the optic Of that Coptie Is a hard one to convince. But the optic Of the Coptic Was a freaky thing from then. And the Coptic ’>S little optic Never saw the same again. Thus an optical illusion Ix’d to ('optical confusion. © © © Now. When should I speak a word of cheer To the fainting hearts that ar.? ever near? Now! When should a helping hand I leud To those who under a burden bend? Now! When should I do the work to do And pay the duty 1 owe to you? Now! When should I do all in my power To fill with sunshine the passing hour? Now! When should I love and charity show For ail of my fellows her,? below? N o w! Friend, do the work that there is for you. Speak the kind word, and the good and true. Help on the weary, and do your part To brighten Hie day and lighten the hea rt, And show by your acts that Love is King, Dearest and sweetest of everything, To-day. which is yours. To-morrow —who knows? — May be too late. Time swiftly goes. Seize on the hour. —it is meet you should, And do whatever you can of good N o w! —By Henry Waldorf Francis. © © © C’oo-ce! j Foam that feeds the Leeuwin, Rollers in the Bight, Cliff and san. 1 of Coogee, South Head’s lifting light! Coo-ee! Coo-00-ee! Hears us call to-night, Coo-00-00-ee! Ferry boats to Manly, Funnel-deep in spray. Homes above the Harbour, Lights' in Double Bay. Coo-ee! Coo-00-ee! Coo-ee! Coo-00-ee! Friends of far aw’ay, , Coo-00-00-ee! Rhndy road to Glenwood, Laughing la-urn Fall, . Blue Kat oom ba Valley, Grey Kaniinbla wall! Coo-eel Coo-00-ee! Hear your lovers call, Coooo-po-ee! Stars above the gum trees, 'Camp fires in tlie Im-ikl, Hoofs upon the sandhills. And every hoof a frjend. Coo-ee! Coo-.00-ee? AH our love we send. ; •• - - Cooooooeet < !'<

Blue-eyed maiden waiting j . By your slip-rail bar. Brown-faced comrade riding West by" sun and star! Coo-ee! Coo-00-ee! Hear us from afar, Coo-00-00-ee I Wide the seas between us. Long the leagues that lie. If no voice can voyage them And no voice reply. Coo-ee! Coo-00-ee! Heart to heart can cry: Coo-00-00-ee! —Will 11. Ogilvie (in the “ British Australasian.”). - ' ' ■ - ;