POETRY

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 440, 1 September 1904, Page 6

POETRY

Alt OLD LOYE-SOJIG. l-, } Ask ma no gay refrain-of love and Insure; I have no lilting lay of light success. ! Here to the night I sang in graver measure . My peerless lady and rav dear distress. Fairest is she—the very winds "adore her, Whispertngteloqnent in sigh-soft speech How that they faint and fold their wings before her, • How lite t star she shines beyond my reach; Lore her I must, not seeking her compassion, In no stray hope to mend my sweet mis- '. chance: Lore her alone, in tender, rev'rent fashion, And kiss her feet as queen of my romance. Pxeud to toe world, to her I humbly render Ail khightly homage on my bended knee; Proud but in this my absolute surrender For life or death to her sweet sov'reigaty.

Hers to command; my true allegiance keeping Prompt to the doingof her light behest, As to the charge where battle's storm is sweeping, Her colours plaited in my helmet's crest. I will not breathe the name the gods have lent her— Call her my Lady of the Golden Heart— Nor point the bower that she alone may enter, The bright, chaste shrine wherein she reigns apart. Here 'neath the stars that claim her as their fellow, I sing my lady and my dear duress. Tell her, ye winds that kiss her shining pillow, The sad, sweet story of my faithfulness. —A. H. Raikks.