POETRY.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 474, 24 May 1890, Page 4

POETRY.

TO K. H. GULLIVER, M.A. As some bright star—oft seen, and, O, so lov’d, , Because its dazzling beams upon us shone. Whilst through empyrean realms it sped along Its steady course upon a jewelled sea— So wc have seen, and so have loved thee. Yet dark clouds (jealous of thy brightness) come Between us and thy splendid fearless light; Like an eclipse that overshadows Love — A creeping blackness of the devil. Hate, Thatcrushes hearts when thoy are dcso’ate And thus we see thee. Ah ! thou wort so far. So far above us in the realm of thought. That few could understand why sorrow came * To crush thy soul, and bend thee ’ncath its rod : But—Thou art still a living p3alm or God. A beacon in the wilds - whoso kindly light Shows o’er the desert waste—Life’s steppingstones .... On which we plod to h 3avon—whilst dying Fraud Lies hissing in its agonising pangs. And shows the world its venom in its fangs. How can it harm us ? Thou hast shown the way How all the sons of God may win the crown That waits beyond ; how wc. may shun iho wiles That Fraud has woven in tho Loom of Life. And with its shoddy clolh’d a world of strife. To-day wc sco thee ; when to-morrow comes. True loving eves shall gaze across the wave That comes with kisses from a sister realm. And wo shall watch for theo and for thy light That beautifies the world and makes it bright. W. R. Wills.

THE POET’S SECRET.

[Suggested on reading a poem by W. R. VI ills entitled " Who Would b a Poet ?”] When I was wont to meet her In the quiet shady places, By the home that gave me birth ; We stood tranced in long e > braces. Mixed with kisses sweeter, sweeter Thau anything on earth ! Tennyson's “Maud.” Once in days that now are olden, In the fairy Springtime golden Of rosy youth, when all around seems so divinely fair; There chanced across my vi.-ion To appear wi<h charm Klysian A girlish form so lovely, one to me beyond compare. She was as an angel presence, Bearing in herself the essence Of that which claims youth’s homage, pure as seraphs claim above. And to me her eyes did rent or In their softcerulean splendour A rapture that comes only with tho dream of opxliest love. Life was hard, and stern misfortune Had assigned to me a portion, That Toil’s persistent etlorts could not wholly set. aside. I had formed mine own i leal, ■ But the life that was so real Paled nnd blighted Hope’s fair promise in the opening of its pride. I was pained and sober-hearted, As in silence 1 departed From scenes her youthful loveliness had so ondcared to me ; S ill, at times in fancy turning, In my soul’s impassioned yearning, I cat) see her as I’ve seen her, in her artless, girlish glee. We have lingered in the forest. When fragrant airs were purest. And rural charms were sweetest in the glories of tho spring 1 When the sunlight all entrancing ’Mid forest-dells was glancing. And the birds, fair nature’s choristers, would rapturously sing. ’Mid fern and flower and blossom. That the leafy nooks embosom To her voice beloved I’ve listened in its accents low and sweet; Till I yearned with strong desire To estay the poet's lyre, If perchance some simple tribute her approving glance might meet. If perchance I could but only In my musings sad and lonely Enshrine the silent worship of my heart in tuneful lays; I would seek no guerdon dearer. Nor woo o joy sinccrer Than that I ve proved and tested in each psean of her praise. This has been the sole ambition Of my life crowned with fruition ; A joy that compensates me for tho loss I did sustain: A solace to all sadness. Enhancing every gladness Tho mu3e alone may bring mein this autumntide of pain.; Years liavo passed, but life’s ordeal Has not marred the bright ideal 1 Still her beauty is as potent and as froshly-fair to mo As in days when hope was smiling On the future, care-beguiling ; And faith itself could triumph over doubt and mystery. Could the cynic then deter mo, Or hostile censure scaro me From an art that kings have envied and sages deemed divine ? When the gift that is God-given Has its peerless worth in Heaven. And brings a mystic sweetness to this shattered heart of mine ! A. W, lit RHY, Hobson-strcet, May 3rd, 1890.