Selected Poetry

New Zealand Tablet, 22 December 1921, Page 24

Selected Poetry

A Child's Christmas Song There's Christmas in the air,-dears, • And there's Christmas :in the street '• "Where sleigh bells tune their chiming To the horses' flying feet. There's Christmas in the house, dears, For we're setting up the tree And hanging up the stockings So that Santa Clause may see! f There's Christmas in the church, dears, Where the humble manger stands And children kneel to pray there And kiss His little hands. There's Christmas in our hearts, dears, And it thrills us through and through * To love and live and give, dears, As the Christ Child taught us to! —Pauline Frost Rafter. The Cardinal Flower O'er the dark woodland pool Lobelia hung— A burning spot amid a world of shade; And the dim surface with her flame she made Kin to that sea the man of Patmos sung, Mingled with fire. Each brilliant, cloven tongue Found a reflection; the undistinguished glade Shone with a twofold brightness, and each blade And spire took beauty from the gleam she flung. Upon that sanguine bloom who still may chance Nor know some portion of their first surprise Who greeted it and sent it home to France To show what marvels grew beyond the seas — Know, too, that spite of silks and precious dyes, Richelieu was not arrayed like one of these —G. S. 8., in the New York Tribune. . ¥• ■ Teddo Wells, Deceased V-, Times I think I'm not the man — « Must be some mistake. Me* that, was so spick and span, Cute and wideawake Now so beat and crotchety Sixty-five, at least — Knockin' round the presbytery, Groomin' for the priest, Choppin' wood, and ringin' bells, Dodgin' work and takin' spells! Me all right, one Ed'ard Wells (Late v Teddo Wells, deceased) Wh'eelin* x barrows round the yard, Gammon to be workin' hard, A-groomin' for the priest! Trainin' prads was Teddo's game Made a tidy bit. ) Everybody knew the name, Teddo Wells was "It." Bought that bit of property , •

(Value since increased), '., > N " v Gettin' on tremendously, Married by the priest. ' Papers full .of Teddo Wells, Trainin' horses for the swells; Since redooced to ringin' bells (Teddo Wells, deceased) Shinin' boots and learnin' sense, Nsfilin' palin's on the**fence, A-groomin' for the priest. Lost that bit of property, Ended up in smoke Too much "Jimmie Hennessy'"— Down, and stony-broke. Used to trink he knew the game Till they had him fleeced. "Mud" is this 'ere hero's name, Workin' for the priest— Unbeknown to sports and swells; They've no time for Ed'ard Wells, Up the spout and ringin' bells As "Teddo Wells, deceased" Never noticed up the town, Never asked to keep one down— Groomin' for the priest. Times I stops a cove to chat, One as gamed and spieled; Chips me in the curate's hat, "Six to four the field." "What-o ! Teddo Wells," sez he, "Him that horses leased, Owned that bit of property, Groomin' for the priest?" "Guessin' eggs and seen- the shells; Brains," sez I, "and breedin' tells, This old gent is Ed'ard Wells, • Late Teddo Wells, deceased. Ringin' bells is Ed'ard's game, Openin' doors and closin' same, Called ' groomin' ' for the priest?' Never see a horse nohow, , Just an old machine; , j Always in a tearin' row With this Josephine. Got an eye that makes you feel Well and truly p'liced, Follerin' out upon your heels, A-goin' to tell the priest. "Can't smoke here now, Ed'ard Wells, That old pipe offensive smells; Go and smoke outside," she yells. So Teddo Wells, deceased, _.- Him that once was in the boom, Wood-heap has for smokin' room A-groomin' for the priest. Times I says it's all a joke Someone's puttin' up; Me dead-beat and stony-broke, Me that won a cup, Owned that bit of property, % Them good horses leased! Kickin' round the presbytery v A-groomin' for the priest! Choppin' wood and ringin' bells, Curby-hocked and takin' spells! Me it is, one Ed'ard Wells, (Late Teddo Wells, deceased) Smokin' hard and talkin' free Of the man he used to be, And groomin' for the priest. John O'Brien, in Around the Boree Log.