THE POET'S DOOM

Horowhenua Chronicle, 28 March 1916, Page 3

THE POET'S DOOM

('Lne Gorman censorship is report- ) ed by caiblu to be so strict that the writer of a poem unwelcome to bhe military on It was sentenced to death). They took the poet by his hair. Those German censors gluou and grim ; They dragged him from his inky lair. And with a spondee bludgeoned him. In vain with frenzied rhymes he tried To stay them mmi their purpose red; They answered: ""It is time you died.' And very Shortly hi\, was dead. The poet direanied that lie vouM ,rise To shine beside the splendid sun. Until they ea.me to criticise His writing with a G-atildng gun; Commingled, from his busy pen. Were melody and satire shed, Till unappreoiative men

Oame 11 j> and fifed him full of load. I Through flowery lands ho divninod afar, Where all was beniltiful ami true; The Uerman censors niurmuml "-' !1 - ) , \i«'vc grown ;i tittle hemp for you/' They noosed about his trembling throat A loop :ik deadly and as tough As anything h< , ever wrote. And that "was Vt-hiil work enoiign. His cpitsoieliijOoiit hero cunsistK Of savage editorial heads. Wlio with blue pencils in their firsts Cut all his finespun gold to shreds; Unt, in the land where Kultur reigns, ■Skit only do they puff askew The airy fabrics of his brains, They blow his bally brains out too. Alas, if Xerv South Wales should choose That everyone he may offend In his pursiiings of the Muse Wliould compass hdrn a bfoody end ; Tho men whom lie has libVlled sore Would/ slit his throat with litti? ruth. But truly he is fearing more The folk of whom he told the truth. —tiydney Sun.