Select Poetry.

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 1, Issue 49, 9 December 1867, Page 303

Select Poetry.

■■V "'l: Qg BATrn -BTO-ti -•'" ’ : seguesfcred forest glide, ' r- • ‘ vTPthifi.th&dMksome.tea-trfie’s shade,, > Far;from the haunts of men; - ' Where' Wild- dogsprowl, >f . • 11 • : Whose midnight howl ; ‘ , r i ; Wakes the lone , echoes of the glen, Ornear some solitaryatream, ; Whosesparklihg waterssoarce.are seen, Asi’tween eachwinding hank . They glide along "With whispering song, ‘ '■ ' r - ’Neath,a mass of foliage rank ; .Or wherethe cloistral ferns are found. ~" i Casting broad shadows oh the ground, ■■r ;■ In some deep, dark ravine, ‘‘ And notes are heard .. . Of the lyre bird, ' Beneaththe musk scrub’s sombre screen, Of oval shape, of framework.slight, And scarce a single foot in height. Unnoticed, and unknown, A building stands, Framed without hands, Standing there, by itself alone. Its slender walls and airy roof Are built with twigs of tenderest growth, ' . Of smooth and polished rind,Bach in its place, Vith rustic grace Compactly laid, and deftly twined. Feathers, of varied hue and form, This pretty edifice adorn, These are the gaudy tiles That often pave. : Its central nave, . And decorate its entrance aisles. Now he who did this work direct, Head builder, and. chief architect, Who chose the building's site, ' And did with skill His part fulfil, ’ ,■ Just as a practised builder might, Is with rich purple plumes arrayed Dark as deep midnight in their shade, Yet full of the soft light That maybe seen ' - I On starlit stream, I Upon a pleasant summer’s night; And his brilliant eye doth glow With beauty, like .the fair rainbow, . • Which, in the weepin'g cloud, Smiling appears ✓ Amidst the tears That form its cradle and its shroud. Unlike himself, his mates, they say Are simply clothed in mottled grey, . Yet, as his kindred true, Though plain their dress, . They all possess A peerless eye of brightest blue. When once the building is complete, - And all in order, trim, and neat. According to,the plan . That from all days Hathbeen always Adoptedby this plumed clan; , ; Then, oh a fine spnshiny day, \ The bnilders meet toj.fre&k and play, -- •v ■■ , And pass a gladsome hdur, .. Within the shade Of the lone glade, Where stands their little fancy bower. Ever present at such gay scene, Such sportive tryst in forest gi eon, Beyond all his compeers, In tbe full height Of his delight, The purple eoated bird appears. Chief actor in this comedy, . “ Prince” of this “ Agapemone,” ; _ I need not write his name; ■ ' Since all have heard Of the gay bird, Of lustrous dress and building fame. —Australian Journal. j. g 0.