From the Poets

Southland Times, Issue 21097, 31 May 1930, Page 23

From the Poets

QUEST. No desert shall discourage me — “ Who hope the star-watched Babe, to see? No mountain slope or dark defile — I shall press onward, mile on mile.

No sheep I have been called to tend Hinder me from that journey’s end. It is a heart compelling quest— To find the Christ Child for my guest. —Heloise B. Hawkins.

THE FIRST SONG But yesterday the hedgerows All garbed in brown were seen; Yet now upon their crests they wear Bright coronets of green. And yesterday the primrose Had still its flow’rs unrolled; Yet now it makes the woodlands fair With garniture of gold. And the reason? Ah the reason Ls not very far away; For the first sweet song of springtide Has the blackbird trilled to-day! But yesterday the heavens With sombre clouds were dull; Yet now the skies are sapphire-hued, And wondrous beautiful. And yesterday the streamlets Were laggard in their flow; Yet now they purl in merry mood, And frolic as they go. And the reason? Ah, the reason Is not very far away; For the first sweet song of springtide Has the blackbird trilled to-day. —Edward Oxenford. • —Sent in by Cousin Hazel Stewart. OXFORD. I came to Oxford in the light Of a spring-coloured afternoon; Some clouds were grey and some were white, And all were blown to such a tune Of quiet rapture in the sky, I laughed to see them laughing by. I had been dreaming in the train With thoughts at random from my book; I looked, and read, and looked again, And suddenly to greet my look Oxford shone up with every tower Aspiring sweetly like a flower.

Home turn the feet of men that seek, And home the hearts of children turn, And none can teach the hour to speak What every hour "is free to learn; And all discover, late or soon, Their golden Oxford afternoon. —Gerald Gould.