Poetry.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2510, 11 August 1888, Page 1 (Supplement)

Poetry.

THE MAJORITY. How fare they all, they of the pallid faces, Beyond our power to beckon their return ? How is it with them in the shallow places ? How shall we loarn Their solemn secret? How can we discover, By any earnest seeking, the true way Unto the knowing in what real they hover, In what high day. Or in what sombre shadows of the night, They ar« for evor hidden from our sight ? We question vaiuly. Yet it somehow pleases, When they have spoken the last sad goodbye, It somehow half the puin of parting eases. That in the sky, In the vaßt solitudes of stars and spaces, There may be consciousness and lifo and hope. And that when we must yield to death's embraces, There may be scope For the unfolding of the better bowers, So sadly slifl'd in this lifo of ours. THE SNOWING OF THE PINES. Softer than silence, stiller than still air, Float down from high pine boughs the slender leaves. The forest floor its annual boon receives That comes like snowfalls, tireless, tranquil, fair. Gently they glido, gently they olothe the bare Old rocks with grace. Their fall » mantle weaves Of paler yellow than autumnal sheaves Of those Strang" blossoms the witch-hazels wear. Athwart long aisles the sunbeams pierce their way; High np, the crows are gathering for the night; The delicate needles fill the air ; the jay Takes through their golden mist his radiant flight; Thev fall and fall, till at November s close Tho snowflakes drop as lightly—snows on snows. A CHRISTMAS CAROL. [By J. Rosseli, Lowkll.J " What means this (tlory round our feet." The Magi mused, " inure bright than morn ?" And voices chanted, clear and sweet, "To-day the Prince of Peace is born." "What means that star," the shepherds said, " That brightens thro' the rocky glen ?" And angels, answering overhead, Sang, " Peace on earth, good will to men." 'Tis eighteen hnndred years and more Since those sweet oraclos were dumb ; We wait for him like those of yore; A'as 1 He seems so slow to come. But it was said in words of gold No timo or sorrow e'er shall dim, That little children might be bold In perfect trust to c<)ino to him. All round about our feet shall shine A light like that the wise men saw, If we our loving wills incline To that sweet Life which is the Law. So shall we learn to understand The simple faith of shepherds then, And, clasping kindly hand in hand, Sing, "Peace on earth, goodwill to men !" And they who do their souls no wrong, But keep at eve the faith of morn, Shall daily hear tho angels' song, " To-day the Prince of Peace is born 1