LIBER'S NOTE BOOK

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2799, 17 June 1916, Page 6

LIBER'S NOTE BOOK

"Drums," A vast number of poems'- inspired bythe war have appeared in tho English weekly '• papers. Much of this war verse is pitifully poor in quality, but here and there is a noble exception. Such,-so'it seems to me; are the verses, entitled "Drums," and. signed ."Edwin Smallweed," which recently appeared in tho London "Weekly Dispatch :— -

My Ned has gone, he's gono away, he's gone away for good; He's called; he's killed, Him. and his drum .lies in the rain,,lies in the rain where they was stood, Where tljey was stilled. He was my soldier boy; my Ned, Between these breasts he'd lay his head, But now he's killed.

My Soldier's gone. His head .lies;-now between two naked stones,' . His drum is broke.! _ . There's none to mourn him in the'rain, only the rooks which watch his tones, Which watch and croak.;" His great red-hand-is wasted bare, That, tapped his drum, that ,-touched my hair. -■, Hark! Not a stroke. But-what is this beside my .heart, beside my heart that sounds? Tap tap, tap tap! ; Oh, what, is this that beats within, like drummers beating bounds Hap upon rap! What wonder have 1 felt and heard? Is it' the wing-beats of a bird? Tap tap, tap tap!

My .boy is gone, -yet near. my. heart an- ' other boy lies now, Though he be dumb'. , He thumps my heart like soldiers thump, he ; thumps a tow-row-row, , : , To 6ay he's come. A drummer boy, all gaily dres't, ■ Will yet again be a-t my breast, v .- -Harlt! : There's his drum!. ...

■U'.'Drums" has. beent'wldely quoted,„ not., only in the Press, of the-Old, Country, but in .America, vlts author, „"Bdran Smallweed," has !■ since been identified' as A. Neil Lyons, - the author,, of "Arthur's," "Clara," "Sixpenny Pieces," and "Cottage Pie." A volume of war sketches by Mr. Lyons, "Kitclien'er Chaps," was reviewed in these columns a few weeks ago.