SELECT POETRY.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 178, 6 July 1871, Page 7

SELECT POETRY.

(Darwin Loquitur.)

THE DESCENT OF MAN.

" Alan comes from a Mammal that lived up a tree, And a great coat of hair on his outside had he, Very much like the Dreadnoughts we frequently see - Which nobody can deny: "He had points to his ears, and a tail to his ramp, To assist him with ease through the branches to i jump — In some cases quite long, and in some a mere stumpWhich nobody can deny. • " This, mammal, abstaining from mischievous pranks, Was thought worthy in time to be raised from the ranks, And with some small ado came to stand on two shanks — Which nobody can deny. "Thus planted, his course he io prudently steered. That his hand soon improved and his intellect cleared ; Then his forehead enlarged and his tail disappeared — Which nobody can deny. " 'Tisn't easy to settle wJien Man became Man, When the Monkey type stopped and the Human began ; But some very queer things were involved in the plan— Which nobody can deny. " Women plainly had beards and big whiskers at first ; While the man supplied milk when the baby was nursed ; And som>; other strong- facts I could tell— if I durst - Which nobody can deny. *' Our arboreal sire had a pedigree too ; The Marsupial system comes here into view ; So we'll trace him, I think, to a Great Kan--garoo— Which nobody can deny. " This Kangaroo's parent perhaps was a bird ; But an Ornithorhynchus would not be absurd ; Then to frogs and strange fishes we back are referred - Which nobody can deny." Thus far Darwin has said : But the root of the , Tree— Its nature, its name, and what caused it to be, Seem a secret to him, just as much as tome — Which nobody can deny. Did it always exist as a great institution ? And what made it start on its fii-st evolution ? As to this our good friend offers no contribution— Which nobody can deny. Tet I think that if Darwin would make a clean * breast Some botanical views would be frankly confessed, And that all Flesh is Grass would stand boldly expressed — Which nobody can deny. The Loves of the Plants so deliciously sung. Must have softened his heart when his bosom was young, And the Temple of Nature has prompted his tongue -' Which nobody can deny. But now if in f u tut egood breeding we prize, To be cherubs and angels we some day may rise ; And, indeed, some sweet angels are now in my eyes - Which nobody can deny. If this is our wish, we must act with due care : And in choosing our spouse no pains we should Bpare, But select only those that are wise, good, and fair— Which nobody can deny. Yet howetrer he came by it, man has a soul, That will not so submit to despotic control, As to make monks and nuns of three-fourths of the whole — Which nobody can deny. The bad may be pretty, the good may be plain ; And sad matches are made from the lucre of gain ; So perhaps as we are w.e shall likely remain — Which nobody Can deny. After all, then, I ask, what's the object in view? And what practical good from his creed can ensue ? I can't Hud in it much that's both useful and new— Which nobody can deny. Our old friend Lucretius explained long ago. How the fittest survive and the weak are laid low ; And our friends of the Farm must a thing or two know — Which nobody can deny. I would ne'er take offence at what's honestly meant, Or that truth should be told of our lowly descent ; To be sprung from the dust I am humbly content— Which nobody can deny. But this groping and guessiug may all be mis•taken, And in sensitive minds may much trouble awakon, So I'll stmt up my book, and go back to my Jietcan — Winch nobody can deny. — " Blackwood'e Magazine."