THE CONQUEROR.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 32, 13 October 1911, Page 12

THE CONQUEROR.

By ALF. CRAftIPTON (Aus.).

He rose oiroet long, long ago — A snarling Calaban ; And he raised his eyes from his cave below To the great peaks capped with sunkissed SIIOAV— • Then his long campaign began. He stirred the soil with, tools ill-made, And the breasts of the Desert bare Felt the burning .shame of a naked maid Who has looked, and learned, and groAvn afraid—Till a lush green robe grew there. And still he toiled) his tireless arm , As eager as his brain To wrest from Nature's hand the charm Of secrets that Avithin her palm . For centuries had lain. On, ever on. through awful .years, When red blood dyed the land; Until at length a World appears, Made beautiful, Avhose boeom Avears Rich gems wrought by his hand. And now, "Behold he thinks!" —liis fods To Reason must succumb. Of mystic feasts, Avhere gorging clods. Mumbled of heavenly pteropods, , There scarce remains a crumh. The Elements heed his appeal,. . Serving on bended knees. His miracles confusion deal To Distance and Disease. Wild wliite-maned chargers of the deep Spring from his conquering keel; . And angry foam-showers hiss and leap Inipotently against his steep Hard Avails of tempered steel. Still one black mensier bars the way, Quite near his journey's end. Shall this last obstacle dismay Or make the Maker of To-day From his firm purpose bend? Not till the SAvift. complaining stream From glacial bonds set free, Shall cease its voyage, stagnate and dream, Should it meet a breeze where beaches gleam At the brink of a dancing sea.

E'en now he crouches, soon to leap At the throat of that beast of prey, And hurl it doAvn, down to the deep' Dark chasms where his vanquished sleep— Mc liuesj Avhen daivjis that day.