LOTUS ZEALANDICA.

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1103, 2 September 1873, Page 3

LOTUS ZEALANDICA.

HaVe you tasted of the lotus that's nurtured in this soil, Sweet death of manly vigor, the toe of honest toil, Of which whoso shall take, in a circle e'er will toalk, Will ponder last year's thoughts, and of ages gone will talk P Avoid it! lest you too be bound for aye to follow The footprints of the past of to dwell in Sleepy Hollow; I passed that valley lately, and tarried there a while: I found that all the people their lagging hours beguile In spinning moral cobwebs, and telling o'er old dreams, Explaining how on earth there's nought like what it seems: How they, though sleepy seeming, are the wakeful 'mongst mankind, With burning zeal inspired, whilst all other men are blind;

They sat beneath thoir fruit trees, and calmly, slowly smoked, And twaddled of their grand dams, and how those ladies joked. Beside each one a goblet with magic liquor filled Was placed, wherefrom their spirits the subtle Leth.' swilled: And when one raised his glass with intent td take a nip More dreamy grew his face as the vessel touched his lip; And ohe, in all that kindness whereof their hearts are full, Passed o'er his cup to me, and bade me tak ■ a pull: He said that lunhd liquor was nectar most divine— A balm for every sorrow—and he called it cherry wine. I took a hearty draughty and paused to thank—when, quick, I was forced to rush away for it made me very sick* 'Twas thus I learned, bow men, transformed to aged crones; Though wearing manhood's garb, may live and die as drones, For, buzzing, humming, fuming, they never rise to doing, But drink that pois'nous sweetness, except at time of brewing. Then, traveller, beware! if you'll take advice of mine, Go, look at these poor dreamers, but don't touch cherry wine!