Poets' Corner

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 306, 17 March 1928, Page 14

Poets ' Corner

THE LAST GIFT lWritten for The Sun.] Tlhave taken so much of your beauty, oh kind strong earth, Face on your soft old face, heart on your deep heart lying — Scent of wind in the pines and the small stream’s bubble of mirth, Hush of the sad-eyed pool that is dark with night birds’ crying; Drowned stars deep in the lake, sunset flame in a pine, Clutching baby fingers of little ferns, close-curled — These are a stain of scent from a cool old perfumed wine That sleeps in a graven chalice blueglazed at the dawn of the world. Behold, Life's gipsy goes clad in the glory of rainbow's end, He has taken the gold for his heart from a forest of wind-brighi broom; And the wise hills speak to his ears, and the white stars call him friend And stoop their stately candles to lighten his way of gloom. Life that has given so much, yield me the power to give! Grant that thy ghosts of beauty, folded close in my brain, Born again of my lips, may come to i.lossom and live. And their scent give peace to the world like scent of an evening rain. Give me the gift of grass that is harp for summer’s wind. Gift of rain on the leaves, and the dawn’s first magical bird, That dreams like angels may come to trouble the eyes of the blind At the dame of beauty suddenly caught and clad in a word. ROBIN HYDE. Wellington. POHUTUKAWAS. [Written for The Snn.l Narrow of leaf and stiff of stem are these. The outmost sentinels of the sea wood, Whose twisted branches have so long withstood The onslaught of the wind across the seas. They thrust tougn roots in riven crannies vrhere Even the parched sea grasses find no hold. Where dry, bright lichens tinge the cliffs with gold, And the salt spray is Bung like smoke in air. Stark warriors, sober in their jade and grey. Till, like the exultant banners of a host Their blood-red blossoms Same along the coast. Burning like sunset in their brave display. ALICE A. KENNY* . j Peaa.,