WANDERINGS IN WESTLAND

Hokitika Guardian, 1 March 1930, Page 7

WANDERINGS IN WESTLAND

(Adapted from Hilaire Bello’s Poem “The South Country.”) When I am living in cities That are crowded and unkind, I light my lamp at evening My work is left behind; And the snow clad hills of Westland Come back into my mind. The snow clad hills of Westland They stand along the sea; And its there walking in the green bush T hat ! could wish to be, With the men that were boys when I was a boy Walking along with me. The men that live in Christchurch I saw them for a day; Their hearts are set on the ploughed fields, And tussocks old and grey; From tlie Cathedral spire a man may see The mountains far away. The men that live in Otago They see the Clutha strong, A rolling on rough water' brbwn Light aspen leaves along • They have the wisdom of the Gael And the oldest kind of song. But the men that live in Westland Are the kindest and most wise They get their laughter from the loud surf, And the faith in their happy eyes Comes surely from our Sister the Spring When over the sea she flies; The violets suddenly bloom at her feet. She blesses us with surprise. I never get between the pines But I smell the down south air Nor I never come on a belt of sand But my home is there, And along the skv the line of the hills So noble and so bare. *'■ • • A lost thing could I never find, Nor a broken thing mend, And I fear I shall be all alone When I get towards the end. ; Who will bo there to comfort me And who will be. my friend? I will gather and carefully make my friends Of the men of this western land; They watch the stars from silent hills And the edge of the ocean strand; By them and the God of the snow clad tops, My poor soul shall be healed. From the Five Mile to Gillespies 'Tis but a, short day’s reach, Past, Galway Bluff and Hollow Rock 1. trudge along the beach; The eternal hill? look down on me And wordless sermons preach, If I ever become a rich man, Of if ever I grow to be old, • will build me a hut in the green bush To shelter me from the cold. And there shall the down south songs be sung And the story of Westland told. [ will hold mv hut in the green bush Within a walk of the sea,. And the men that were boys when I was a boy Shall sit and drink with me.