ANY SMALL NATION.

New Zealand Tablet, 5 August 1920, Page 37

ANY SMALL NATION.

Unconscienced Tyranny, You crouch and say to me, "Yield up your entity !” Of sweet, unlessoned things. No starling changes wings, No thrush its mate’s note flings. The lovely ignorant rose Inalienable knows Each whorl wherewith she blows. All sons of Adam’s hod. Each warm, instructed clod, Holds tremblingly from God, In fearful, bonded trust, For use unjust or just, His own peculiar dust. His spirit commune As tides hold from the lune The sway that sets their tune. Each land, in like degree, Must ward immutably Its children’s liberty. I am of mine the roll, The composite, the whole, Shall you then have my soul? In vain your empery, No haulm can tendril be. No tarn turn to the sea ! Hark, and forever know Single and sole I go, Bleeding, I mock your blow. ________ —E. D.