VAGRANT VERSE

Southland Times, Issue 18859, 26 June 1920, Page 4

VAGRANT VERSE

BALLADES WITH A FINAL S. (Written for the Southland Time*.), I.—The Common Place. To feed her dog, a sacred rite—■ Canine of pedigree sublime— She moveth, in her best bedight. Each step of rhythm and of rhyme As full as some sweet dancing And by her, keen as horse in race. Is Tray, as full of greed as grime, For well ho knows the common place. Though she may move, as well she might. To other places any time, He knows where dwells the old delight, Where rests the bone left from th» “prime.” He barks, and how his barkings chime With that bright gleam upon his face— The bone is where he cannot climb. For well he knows its common place. Puppies of the Infinite Are just the same at dinner-time. Though better off he thinks them quite Who cache hones in Celestial slime Yet these as well hold it a crime. Blot on th’scutcheon, dog’s disgrace, To miss the cupboard—fearful “shime”—• For well he knows the common place. Boh, dog’s meat costs her numTous dime. Yet after Mother e’er he’ll race. For what? A bone, a paradigm— For well he knows the common place, 2. —The Bone. The bane of Tantalus I bear, Born of the ages passing ticet With speed as great as bird in air, Not like a plecreman’s stolid feet—• F or years have placed the sweetest meet Next rr my form, my form alone. Exclusive and it can’t be beat— F'or I am Mistress Hubbard’s bone. The Gods of Greece mayhap did fare On nectar or on some such treat, But with caters ev’ry where, In Siam’s sun or Southland’s sleet, In Polar cold or Tropic heat, I stand supreme, upon my own— One oi that tribe forever meet — For I an; Mistress Hubbard’s +>one. In cupboard dark I’m placed with car*, Some future luncheon to complete, Until, cf all my coating bare, The stock-pot is my last retreat; But still I do not know defeat— My pride of race yet gives me tone, Insisting that my end lie neat— For I am Mistress Hubbard’s, bone. Dog. forgive this latent heat, Bark not, nor trouble ye to moan. A canine’s stomach I must cheat.— F'or I am Mistress Hubbard’s bone. —Shaun O’Sullivaa. Invercargill June 25.