SELECT POETRY.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 278, 29 May 1873, Page 6

SELECT POETRY.

LIKES ON A SKELETON. Some GO years r.go the following poem appeared, in the London "Morning Chronicle." Every effort was vainly made to discover the author, even to the offering of a reward of 50 guineas . All that ever transpired was that the poem, written in a fair clerkly hand, was found lit ar-a skeleton of remarkable symmetry of form in the museum of the Itoyal College of surgeons, Lincolns Inn, London, and that the curator of the museum sent them to the "Homing Chronicle' 1:—1 :—:—: — Behold this ruin ! 'twas a skull, Once of ethereal spirit full. Thia narrow cell was life's recreat ; Tin, space was Thought's mysterious seat. "Whr.t "beauteous visions rilled tins spot, "What dreams of pleasure long forgoc. Nor hope, nor joy, nor love, nor fear, ilave left one trace of record here, Beneath this mouldering canopy Once shone the bright and busy eye ; But btait not at the dismal void — If pociai love that eye employed, Jf with no lawlet.3 tire it gleamed, But thro' the dews of kindness beamed, That eyu bliail be for ever b iglit VV hen &t°.Vd and tain are sunk in night. "Within this hollow cavern hung Thy lualv, swift, and tuneful t Jiiguc. If faUoiiiVi.l's lionoy it disdained, A-m! when it could not psiusc, was chain'cJ, it Ik «!d in. virtue cv.ue it spoke, Yet gentk- conrord never SioLe, This siltnfc toium.' skill pkad for thee Whc'ii time unveils ct<_rnily. Fay, did these fingers delve the mine, Or with the enviul rubies shine ? To 3iow the rock or v.xar the gem Can littk nnv." avail Tothci.i ; Imfc if the p tge of truth they sought, Or conif >rt; t > tlu. mourner These hands a richer '.iced .shall claim Than all that wait on wealth or fame. Avails it whether bare or shod, These fee' the path of duty trod? If from tlio bowurs or ease they lied To seek affliction's humble sLed ; If grandeur's guilty bribe they spurned, •uiu hone to vntuo's cot ror.ui-.ied, These fcjt with an^ol s wln^s dull vie, And tr-cid tlio p dace of the sky.