The Poet's Corner.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1004, 15 July 1881, Page 2

The Poet's Corner.

IN RE CLYDE BRIDGE. At the gathering at Clyde the other day, I heard, as best I could, wha- each gent had to say ; And, amid the talking, eating and drinking, Something there was said that sot me on a-thinking. ’Twas said the river,under mighty Nature’s laws, Could wreck the late built bridge, and its destruction cause ; And against whatever force Nature should choose to send. We would make, no struggle, but yield and tamely bend

Now, I think one reason for which we are sent here, Is to make a fight with Nature—that is ay idea— And if we cannot conquer, yet endeavor still To bend her to our yoke, and make her do opr will.

Take a child of Nature, and place him in among A highly cultured race, to go it whilst he’s young, To follow Nature’s lead, without hindrance or check, He'll end right up a tree, a kink put in his neck,

And why ? Because he had not trained to endure The needful labor, to combat with his nature ; And so he would become, quite as a thiug of course, Unto all mankind an unmitigated curse.

Let man but till the soil, to raise a stole of grain, How does Nature act then, to give him toil and pain, Uprise all bitter weeds amid his crops to grow ? Then he must her battle with harrow, rake and hoe.

Let him slay a beast, to give him store of meat, How long will it keep good that he may dady eat ? Decay will soon appear, the cause not far to seek— With heat and cloudy sky 'twill stink within a week.

Then must he fight Dame Nature with a bag of sail ; Spread it upon the meat, and cause decay to halt. And if it is sweet when done, he has not a fear But that it will keep as sweet for at least a year.

These examples are to prove that my words are t'uo— That Natme we are fight’ng in all things we do, And could I go on writing, adding to the sum, Multiplied it still could bo ad infinitum.

On sea, on land, in river, burn, She meets us still at every turn— Still we, perforce, the war must rage, To keep us level with the ago.

Now, we are fighting Nature with the bridge at Cly ie, That over her obstructions go from side to side. And so far victorious we ourselves may call, Tid the river rises high and destroys it all. In the last fight, of blows she was not niggardly, Homing horse and foot, and taking our artillery ; And have we formed onr ranks, and due precaution ta’eo To guard against her causing like defeat again ? I do fear me not, for on the opening day, Amongst the crowd collected some wera heard lo aay—“The bridge is good and sound, its composition tough, There is one fault to be found—'tis not high enough.”

Just so ! Still we hope Nature with violent hand Will nut ruthlessly destroy our wood and iron baud ; But leave it still a good and permanent roadway, Until it does succumb to natural decay. If it lasts so long, I am ready to affirm Sure it will most truly well have served its turn.

To show that the above in spirit is well meant, I here bequeath to you this toast in senti-

ment— If you would prefer it with frieudr.nd full bottle, Say before the wine shall pass 1 dliraty throttle—- “ May the badge at Clyde the river span, we trust, Till the wood is rotten and the iron rusted." MINER. Blackman’s Gully, July 4.