PARITUTU.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 July 1921, Page 2

PARITUTU.

She has stood in pride by the ocean tide A million years or more— She knows the secrets of star and moon, And the songs that sea-wiuds roar; She knows the thought of the big grey gull That stands on the lonely shore.

The sun has shed—ln the dawning red— His beams on her lofty crown; His heart’s desire, he has clothed her in fire— In a glorious crimson gown; He has spoken his love o'er the quiet sea, And laughed as he sank down!

On her dizzy crags the sad-eyed stags Have stood in a level line— At her feet the Maori has built his huts In the golden evenshine; And she saw come over the ocean’s rim Strange ships of oak and pine!

She has seen the lamps in the soldiers’ camps, And the fight for the Maori pafas. And the immigrants land from th© immigrant shLps By a hundred gangway-bars,— (Oh, the first pioneers have lain for years In their graves 'neath the moon and stars 1)

But the sun was sad in his heaven to-day, And the moon wears a mourning veil, And the ono-poke owl has ceased to prey, And the swamp-birds shriek and wail. For far and wide o'er the countryside Has spread the sorrowful tale:

That the Pakeha—from the lands afar— To serve the Gods of the Mart, By greed of gold made callous and cold, Has shattered a Work of Art, And, without a tear, has cast his .spear In Parltutu’s heart! —ERNEST L. EYRE.