Poet’s Corner

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 73, 17 June 1927, Page 14

Poet’s Corner

WORSHIP (Written for THE SUN.) In church—ah well, it’s my own affair — 1 mostly dream and nod, Or breathe an ill-remembered prayer To a half-believed-in God. While here and there, this way and that. My thoughts go like little hares ; They slip through the old Magnificat Or get lost in the tumbling prayers. I hear through the parson's rhetoric The gasps of the wind outside, And yeern, while the tears come hot and quick, For a friend that I loved, who died Long years ago. . . . And the organ plays In a trembling minor key, While 1 run half-wild , as in childhood days f By the edge of a singing sea. The age-old tale of the Prodigal Son, The faded story of Said , / hear in a dream while the colours run Through the windows, along the wall. I try to think of the sad complaints Of Job, or the tale of the Flood, While the sunshine pours through the crystal saints And scatters their ruby blood. With glorious Gods—all Pagan these — I float down the lonely Styx; And l wonder who laundered the surplices And polished the crucifix. And why words like “ forever” and "infinite” seem As meaningless as the stars. And how Einstein bent the brazen beam That runs from the eye of Mars. I think of parsons, suave and chaste , Of roads that the martyrs trod; Of Cromwell leaving a smoking waste In the name of a loving God; Of temples of Isis, and totem-poles. And shrines on a dusty road; Of the legions of poor unshriven souls All bearing their sinner’s load. On paths to Hell or to Paradise I ponder, and dream, and nod; A7id sigh for the wasted sacrifice As 1 sit in the house of God. A. GLADYS KERNOT. Auckland.

HARMONIES,

[Written for The San-1 A pool of sunshine on the Soot, Made honey-coloured, for the haze Of burning-off was thick across The light of those still autumn days ; And on the old blue-cushioned aeat, Faded to lilac here and there, Elizabeth in Bowered frock, In sheen of silk and burnished hair, Her arms along her body laid In graceful langour of repose; Her linked hands holding in her lap A late loose-petalled yellow rose. A willow plate upon the wall. Brought skyey blues into the room, And a dark bowl of marigolds Powdered with gold and bronze the gloom. A blue-grey butterffy, blown in Between the half-drawn curtain's fold. Flickered with palpitating wings Across the petals’ dusky gold. O perfect transient loveliness! Lashes, and lips, and hands at rest, The gay silk shimmering with light, And faintly stirred upon her breast! A harmony of tint and line Held for a breath in time and space: A joy ot fabric, colour, light. And inextinguishable grace. ALICE A. KENNY. Paeroa. PLEASURE. I Written for The Sun .J I caught a glimpse as she passed by In the hushed concert hall; A lovely interlude between The fiddles’ rise and fall; And at the theatre in the crush I touched her on the arm, But she was gone before I knew The secret of her charm. She smiled upon me at the dance But when in glad surprise I drew towards her, swift she Bed And vanished from my eyes. Sullen I sought my fire and book, Resolved no more to seek; When Pleasure like a wistful child Stooped down and kissed my cheek. DOROTHY FRANCES PERRY. Christchurch. BOVINE AMENITIES. t Written for The Sun.J Hie Beasts . . . are up and raise Their voice and bid their Fellow-brutes Good-morrow. —Otway: “The Orphan.** The cattle are in the field Grazing so early, “Good-morning, ladies!” says the Bull, So bland and burly. "Good-morning, Mr Bull!” says Bluebell. And Primrose and Pansy; “ ’Morning, John," says Buttercup, For she’s his fancy. “Stuck-up thing,” they all think, "Much too familiar! Really I think she gets Sillier and sillier.” A.W. If religion is done away with, 'what is to take the place of discipline?— Capt. F. Graham, M.P.

BOOKS IN DEMAND AT PUBLIC LIBRARY NON-FICTION “BY CAMEL AND CAR TO THE PEACOCK THRONE,” by E. Alexander Powell. “SHE SHANTIES” by A. P. Herbert. “THE CONCEPTION OF ART” by R. Poore. “A MUSICAL TOUR” by Romatn Holland. “THE NEW EDUCATION IN EUROPE ” by F. W. Roman. “AUTOBIOGRAPHIC MEMOIRS ” by Frederick Hamilton. “CHRISTIANITY AND WORLD PROBLEMS ” by W. E. Orchard. “PEOPLE AND BOOKS” by.'. W. Roberston Nicoll. “OUTWITTING OUR NERVES by Josephine Jackson. “MY LIFE AND TIMES,” by Jerome Iv. Jerome. FICTION “LOIS,” by L. W. Meynell. “MR. FORTUNE'S MAGGOT ” by Sylvia T. Warner. “YOUR CUCKOO SINGS BY KIND," by Valentine JDobree. “MAIN STREET” by Sinclair Lewis. “LORD RAINGO ,” by Arnold Bennett. “WORKING BULLOCKS,” by Katharine Prichard. BEST SHORT STORIES, of Alary E. Wilkins. “NORTHWARD BOUND” by R. Fillppi. “O, GENTEEL LADY” by Esther Berbest. “THE GIANT,” by B. Hamilton. Otaki Sanatorium.-— The Minister of Health denies the report that Otaki Sanatorium is to be abandoned, or that the locality is unsuitable. On the contrary, the department is well satisfied with the climate there, and had recently added 20 beds to the institution.