Poets’ Corner

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 489, 19 October 1928, Page 14

Poets ’ Corner

A RHYME OF RATA £ Written for The San.] You are away and I want you here. What can I say to you, my dear? What guile of mine can bring you back? What is your longing, what is your lack? Would it do any good if I said our tree Is as much in Bower as a tree could be? — Great ricks of bloom — why, for my sins, I cannot say where the white begins I And utterly glad, too glad to sing, The birds slant downward on one wing; ~~ With the sod alive and the sweet sky bare They’re half on earth and half in air; And tuis up to their beaks in gold Are honey hot and honey cold, While under the moon the mopokes Would it bring you back? It would not, I know. But you who loved the rata so, call. Would a thing like that be of use at all? Supposing you heard a stranger say In London town some December day, "At home by now the hill’s ablaze With rata in its reddest days,” Net knowing you were behind him, dumb — Would you not take to the sea and come? EILEEN DUGGAN. Wellington. A MOOD OF MARCH rWritten for The Sun.J SU Wh the u . re . less crickets know, OM. s . ound ! n tAe autumn night 1 heir piping slender, How soon a sharper wind shall blow. How sad the piper’s plight In days untender. And still, half sweet, they tune away, And pour their precious breath —Hut brave or mulish? PeT pfay 3S manklnd ‘ who sing and About the feet of Death, Happy and foolish. • H. MINOR. To N.Z. Writers [HANDSOME PRIZES FOR ORIGINAL SHORT STORIES POEMS. ESSAYS. LIMERICKS. THE SUN’S CHRISTMAS NUMBER its 1928 Christmas Number, THE SUN is seeking original and hitherto unpublished short stories and verse. We are again offering attractive rewards for the best performances in each section. SINCE its inception The Sun has opened its columns to New Zealand writers, and has exerted every effort to encourage literary thlent in the Domlnlon. This policy is not just a Christmas endeavour,” but is pursued throughout the year. As a result we may claim to number among our contributors the best writers in New Zealand to-day. We hope with our 1928 Christmas Number to create new records. The following prizes are qffered:— SHORT STORIES First Prize £lO 10s Second Prize £5 5s POEMB First Prize .. £4 4 S Second Prize £3 3 S Two guineas will be paid for each short story that is published (other than prize-winning efforts). The maximum length for stories is 2,500 words. OTHER COMPETITIONS My Strangest Experience. — Not more than 500 words. (First prize. £2 25.) Essay of Not More Than 1,000 Words ‘‘The Man I Regard as New Zealand’s Most Distinguished Living Son—and Why.” (First prize, £2 25.) The Best Limerick.—First prize, £1 is. Other published efforts will be paid for art space rates. The decision of the Editor in all competitions shall be final Manuscript should, if possible, be typed,* and forwarded to The Editor, The Sun, 42 Wyndham Street, Auckland. Make package flat and mark clearly: “Christmas Competitions.” The last folio should bear the name and address of the competitor. Stamps must be enclosed for return of MSS should they prove to be unsuitable. Entries close on November 26. BOOKS IN DEMAND AT THE AUCKLAND PUBLIC LIBRARY FICTION “ THE RUNAGATE’S CLUB,” by J. Buchan. “THE LOST FIGHT” by H. Prescott. ‘‘GOOSE FEATHER BED,” by E. Temple Thurston. ‘‘THE ONE AND THE OTHER,” by Richard Qurle. ‘‘THE BEADLE,” by Pauline Smith. ‘‘HAROLD THE WEBBED ,” by Aloysius Horn. ‘‘THE PROMISED LAND,” by L. St. Reymont. “ARROW OF GOLD,” by Joseph Conrad. “ADAM’S BREED,” by Radclvfje HALL. “A LOST LADY,” by Willa Gather. NON-FICTION “A LITERARY PILGRIM IN ENGLAND,” by E. Thomas. “DO WE AGREE?” by G. K. Chesterton and Bernard Shaw. “THE INTELLIGENT WOMAN’S GUIDE TO SOCIALISM AND CAPITALISM ,” by Bernard Shaw. “TIDEMARKS,” by H. M. Tomlinson. “VISCOUNT LEVERHUME,” by his son. “THROUGH THE CONGO BASIN,” by Douglas Fraser. “A SMALL BOY IN THE SIXTIES,” by G. Sturt. “WHY I BELIEVE IN PERSONAL IMMORTALITY,” by Sir Oliver Lodge. “ANIMAL MYSTERIES,” by E. Boulenger. “OLIVES OF ENDLESS AGE," by E. Brailsford.