VERSES OLD AND NEW.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 960, 29 October 1910, Page 9

VERSES OLD AND NEW.

SHAME. I was ashamed, I'dared'not lift my eyes, I could not bear to look upon the skies. What I had done, sure, everybody knew. :.-'■■ ,- from everywhere hands pointed where I .■*' -, stood. ■ ■ ,■ And scornful-eyes ■'were piercing through I ■ and through ..'.-' ' |. The moody armour of my hardihood. -I heard their voices too—each word an asp • That buzz'd and stung me sudden as a flame: . ■ • •:.''■■■ And all the world was jolting on my name, . And now and then I heard a : wicked .' rasp. '■..'•. Of laughter, jarring nie to deeper shame. -' '..■'•■ And then I looked, and there was no one .... nigh, - ' . - ./' No eyes that, stabbed like' swords or. glinted Sly; No laughter creaking on the silent air 'And then I found that I was all alone Facing my soul, and next,l was aware ; That this mad mockery was all my own. _ '—James' Stephens, in the "Nation." ' vM : RHYME OP, THE EOAD. I bless, that man whose .kindness, set < These avenues of shade,; .. '' 'j\ And may;his place-in, Heaven.be yet / •'..;.. By mjnya green.arcade! '-.• / , . Eie trees' of Heaven are dark'and widi; , ■ Sweet shade ; have thoy .and full; , / ■Our God Himself at eventide / . Walks there' '• in shadow cool. / Now may He pause mid heavenly /oik; Beckon that man .and say: '/ ■ ■ -"Friend, they are .good, tho beec) and ■ oak . '■'■/;■. '■ j■' '.. ;■'/' Toil .planted on a day." ■/ '-. 'And.'by his palm-tree and his will May angel faces lean; ■'■•■'■'; -■/;. 'And may he-hear Heaven's sacsng-bell From .out a leafy; screen... ~/ .' Now for the; acorn smooth aid round, : ■. .And:the-beech-mast so sm&l, : v \_ His.bed be'made on. the h?y ground, '. -Where dews or' Heaven.wiLJ.iall!. .'. 'o may the: Eiver . of' Lif eflow soft • ■'Over its jowclled stones'... ~ ; ■And may the birds in bcoglis aloft ;' '/Sing, well their Lauds'and Nones. : ... ' Yea, be'he keeper of. </ose,trees, . ' . *And may-ho rest be.ow,.. .;' •'•.,;■;,■.-';; -■ Who gives to .weary .oik, such:;ease,':' ; \ This man. of. long'/go. ...... ',: : . . 'Aild may he.'shelter.;)oideii birds,.' -':'-. ,\ And white lambs* the:grass, ;■■. .... • 'Who tempers still-Jr, flocks'and .herds : A\This.sky;of molt^brass.,::.:.;./;; : ." ■ the "Spectator."

> nowadays. . Its oh! ..to be'y°u n g:,in" a -world grown -\'- - oltl > : - : A •>';, ■■!;. r ' A sober wold, and gray; : ,With chivalf banished,'.-and love. grown ■ ."i.'-cold:.-/- ' IVi .And the airies.iled away; . For the I-ttle - People, are . over the. sea,. , : overthe. the -West, !A. : thousjid leagues ■ thr'bugh the. Sunset •.••.•••••.Gate they; dwell: in"the.lsles of the B'st! .".v; '. Its oh't° be young in a'world grown old, A that once".was fair; . She:/as. painted heriface' like an 'old- • . time queen, 7 ■ - Aid tired her faded., hair';.•. :. . fAi( Love, and-Laughter,;.and Hope; and Faith, : are withered and worii asshe; ■ .'pr». all' sweet thingi-. are . fled ''away with ,a the. Little Folk; oyer . the; sea., ,£-Isob'el_A. H. Fisher,' in' the:."!Westmins-'; fcr Gazette.'' -' v- s V:-.:"'?/