THE WEEK’S POEM.

Otago Witness, Issue 4033, 30 June 1931, Page 69

THE WEEK’S POEM.

Have you ever heard of Ralph Hodgson, children, once an editor of the Captain, a popular magazine for boys, hut.now better known as a poet? The two poems of his I am printing here are perhaps best known of all his work, and should be familiar to every body. The first is written against people who kill birds, for, unless birds are allowed to live, our crops will be destroyed by insects; the second is a plea for kindness to animals. I think you should learn them both by heart. • * • • DOT. STUPIDITY STREET. I saw’ with open eyes Singing birds sweet Sold in "the shops For the people to eat, Sold in the.shops of Stupidity S*treet. I saw in vision The worm -in the wheat, And in the shops nothing For people to eat; Nothing for sale in Stupidity Street. ¥ ¥ ¥ THE BELLS OF HEAVEN. ’Twould ring the bells of heaven, / The wildest peal for years, If Parson lost his senses And people came to theirs, And he and they together Knelt down with angry prayers For tamed and shabby tigers And dancing dogs and bears, And wretched, blind ; it ponies, And little hunted hares.