MOONLIGHT ON THE PLAINS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4629, 23 November 1923, Page 4

MOONLIGHT ON THE PLAINS.

(By

F. 8.3

The moonlight’s gleaming flittingly O'er dewy, misty plains, An* tinting with bright shafts o’ light The slumb’ring deep brown drains. Tread softly ! ’tis the mystic hour When cattle wake from sleep, An hopping frogs start dancing stunts -An’ frighten silent sheep! From out the clumps o’ rushes, by A shallow, clear lagoon, The ducks wade but to meet their mates, Their chaperone, the moon. In luscious pastures, nearly hid Tne dairy cattle lie ; A brown-eyed Jersey mother with Her new born calf is! nigh. She's looking for a shelt’ring place, Where she may safely hide The wee brown babe that came to her At fall of eventide. A big draught mare is grazing, like All horses do, at night, But turns a soft, maternal eye To keep her foal in sight. O’er all,, the gentle silver. Moon shines With her clear, pale light, Marks with Old Earth that mystic hour— The heart-throb o’ the night! But it’s only for a tiny pause, The Earth has far to go; She only rests once every night, The ‘‘old wives” tell you so. Then on she turns from day to day And day and night and day, And ever thro’ the countless years The same unceasing sway. Comes the Great Rangi, Rar or La, The Mighty Shining Sun ! • One brief glance ‘on the Moon’s fair “watch” And sees that it’s well done. Miladi Moon ! She will not wait For praise from Rangi—none ! She. rules the Night and then retires, For Daylight brings the Sun! -