"NOT UNDERSTOOD'

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10497, 7 December 1911, Page 5

"NOT UNDERSTOOD'

Since the"lofty'sentiments of.the poem by- which. Thomasv Braeken? is best remembered have been utilised as & sort of political apology by a party- whose actions in. the main, will continue "not understood" to the end of time, it may not be out of place to publish the following paraphrase as throwing a clearer light on the Ministerial position:—

Not understood. We scheme and plot and plunder ; Our vests grow wider as the seasons creep Along the years; we marvel and we wonder Why mugsi and mugs, and how w;j office keep, Not understood.

'Sot understood. We foster false impressions, And scatter "kidstakes" ; as the ' : 'years'"'go by;""' •""' ' ';' '" ' Moke virtues even of our worst transgressions. And thus men rise and fall and live and die; Not understood.

Not understood. Poor souls with stunted vision Count us as giants by their narrow gauge. The pricking shafts of comment and derision. Yet harm us not, for we have bluffed the age, Not understood. Not understood. The secret springs of action Which lie beneath the surface of the show, We keep 'em hid, and not with satisfaction, That still our subterfuge and pretexts go, Not understood. Not understood. How trifles often ' change lis! 1 The timely prompting, the judicious i _ skite. .Do what ood couldn't manage and ar- '. range us — j Sir Joe a Baronet.and mo a Knight'-! I Not understood. Not understood. How many men ar* aching For lack of office —men who'd do or die; | How many noble spirits ,we arc breaking Because wc don't intend to let 'em try, Not understood. Thank God that men don't woe, a trifle clearer; Or guess more cutely what they cannot see! > . ThiVnk God that men don't dra.w a little nearer . I To true ideals! We'd be-up a tree. ' Not understood.