Poets’ Corner

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 571, 25 January 1929, Page 14

Poets ’ Corner

AFTER TEARS (Written for The Sun.) Sudden, the heart’s birds chime again, As, in some forest sweet with rain That shakes the blossoming hair of Spring, Loud and gallant choirs sing. Clad in notes of gold and green Music thrills a world washed clean — Clear as throstle’s hymn at morn Courage winds his slender horn. Soft as sparrows in the eaves, Whose song scarce stirs the ivy leaves, Come drowsy murmurings of peace, Of thankfulness that raindrops cease. Like the bell bird’s showered laughter Gaiety comes flying after: Like the blackbird’s wistful flute. Hope breathes in pipes but lately mute. But ah! Like some bright, secret bird Only by wandering children heard. Or by those hearts that seek for long Broken sapphires of its song, Deep in the green, forsaken places Where dew lies cold on jonquil faces. My longings whisper o’er their tune, My nightingales beseech the moon. ROBIN HYDE W ellington. SALISBURY CATHEDRAL (Written for THE SUN) [To Cedric j I said “A great white flower” —that was Canterbury, and now I can only say the same thing again because no words can tell with all their pain beauty of tall spire and cold clerestory, nor can the utmost music of my verse speak of this fair cool unfolded bloom sweet with all brightness and rich with all gloom calm with the feet of angel thurifers. I can only echo un reve de pierre, worship the dreamer of this dream in stone , and for a consolation make my own these words from the dark rime of Baudelaire. GEOFFREY DE MONTALK. The Close, Sarum. BOOKS IN DEMAND AT THE AUCKLAND PUBLIC LIBRARY NON-FICTION "THE ART OF LANDSCAPE PAINTING,’’ by L. Richmond. “THE LETTERS OF KATHERINE MANSFIELD.” “.MIDSUMMER NIGHT,” by John Masefield. “BENEATH TROPIC SEAS,” by IF. Beebe. “THE INTIMATE PAPERS OF COLONEL HOUSE.” "DENMARK,” by 11. Clive Holland. “ SPONS’ HOUSEHOLD REPAIRS.” “WORLDS WITHIN WORLDS,” b)j Stella Benson. "MRS. FISHER OR THE FUTURE OF HUMOUR,” by R. Graves. “ARGONAUTS OF THE SOUTH.” by F. Hurley. FICTION "STONE DESERT,” by H. Wast. “JEHOVAH’S DAY,” by Mary Borden. “THE LADDER OF FOLLY,” by Muriel Hine. “THE COMING COUNTRY,” by F. Younghusband. "BRIGHT METAL,” by F. S. Stribling. “THE GREEN BAY TREE,” by L. Bromfield. "THE RASP,” by Philip Macdonald. ■THE OLD WIVES’ TALE,” by Arnold Bennett. “THE INFAMOUS JOHH FRIEND,” by R. S. Garnett. "BENIGHTED " by J. B. Priestley.