VAGRANT VERSE

Southland Times, Issue 18844, 9 June 1920, Page 4

VAGRANT VERSE

••UNKNOWN." (Written for the Southland Times.) “The ; tinnier of 1920 is practically our lust oppm aunty of identifying the graves of our (itad. Those not found then never will be If (as often hapiiensj the grate vvi-s marked with a .small piece of wood with tile name pencilled on it, our last chance of finding ic will vanish with the suinmu - .’’—A c:y from a Maorilander in France. Tar, far away in sunny Trance, V. nore, huhily to and fro, Among t he leaves the sunbeams dance 111 fields where poppies grow; Among the hill.-, and in the dales Wnere ir.t-.s gurgling run, Vv’iih liquid oadenca through the vale% All ;j>aikhng in tiie sun; There many, many soldiers sleep Who bravely fighting, fell— No kindred o'er their grates may weep, No .-lone their stories tell, id.,' p,,la ’.vlilte ii:oo*i her purest beams In silver radiance sheds, .in 1 ,-T:mng white, a small cross gleams Above tneir narrow beds. The lark’s gird song, it wakes: them not, To calm and deep their rest. And nature, broo-ung o’er the spot, Guards ail the souls "Gone West.” The sighing wind, so .sweet and low, A slow sad requiem sings The grasses whisper to and fro, With gentle murmuring.;. Tiie brooklet murmurs soft: “Sleep on," The hills, they echo, “Sleep," The winding river joins the song; The mountains vigil keep. And deep and long they sleep who fought Amid the din of war. There where in snow and sleet they wrougnt. They rest, their fighting o’er. Out there in France (hey did their part, And there in France they lie; Bui carved upon a nation's heart Their fame shall never die. Then, sleep in fields where poppies grow, Fte-'p ’nealh the summer sun. Sleep, when the hills are white with snow, Soldier your work 1b done. —E. Lament. Invercargill, June 7.