POETRY. A KING'S GIFT.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 187, 15 January 1887, Page 1

POETRY. A KING'S GIFT.

An old king sat in the summer bower Of his paltvcc by thesoa, XJnburied gods around him lay He nevermore may sec ! "Why vw it thus 1 I need not toll. He loved his treasures passing well ; Thit they must go- and sad and lone Ho stands by the side of his empty throne. And so day by day, and so night by night, He watch'd his treasnr'd lore ; ■Fair pictures hung on his palaco walls. He'll see now nevermore. Why was it thus? no need to toll. He loved the people true and well ; And he gave to them for evermore The light of w orlds and the works of lore. He saw old legends of the golden age Smiling farewell to him : Old favourites of the far oil' lands, And oft his eyes crew dim. . As a father parts n ilh his children fair, So hi.s heart shall follow his treasures rare. And in visions by day and at night by dream He'll roam by the graves where they havo been. He shall hear the thrush, it shall sing his praise, When skies are bright or dim ; And the laverock in ils sweetest lays Shall enrol its evening hymn ; "But the old king standing beside his throne Shall but think of his children past and gone. Yet in visions of ioy, or in dreams of pain— Heshall clasp to his soul his own again I 3<\>r his spirit shall wander to the gods Who peopled his rare estate— And the thousands who love his gifts so fanShall crown him good and great. And in visions by day- in dreams by night. He'll see the world by his work made light, For each loving heart shall his praises ring Who hath given his treasures liko a king. W. 11. Wills.