Poetry

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2647, 29 June 1889, Page 1 (Supplement)

Poetry

POST-MERIDIAN.

AFTERNOON. When in thy glass thou studiest thy face, Not lung, nor yet not seldom, half repelled Ami half attracted ; when thou hast beheld Of time's slow ravages the crumbling trace (Dociphercd now with ninny an interspace The characters crewhile that beauty spelled), And in thy throat a choking fear hath swelled Of lovo, grown cold, eluding thy embrace : Could'sf thou but reAd luy gaze of tenderness— Affection fused with pity—precious tears Would bring relief to thy unjust distress ; Thy visage, even as it to me appears, Would seem to these transfigured; thou would'st blesis Me, who am also, dearest, scarred with years! EVENING, Ago cannot wither her whom not grey hairs Nor furrowed cheeks havo made the thrall of Time; , IPor Spring lies hidden under Winters rime, And violets know tho victory is theirs. Even so the corn of Egypt, unawares. Proud Nilus shelters with engulfing slime So Etna's hardening crust a more sublime Volley of pent-up fires at last prepares. O face yet fair, if paler, and sereno With sense of duty done without complaint ! 0 venerablo crown—a living green, Strength to tho weak, and courage to the faint— Thy oleaching locks, thy wrinkles, have but been Fresh beads upon the rosary of the saint! THE MESSAGE OF VICTOKY. " News to the king, good news for all!" Tho corn is trodden, the river ri<ns red, " News of the battle," tho heralds call, " Wo have won the field ; we havo taken tho town, Wo havo boaton tho rebols and crushed thum down," 'And tho dying lie with the dead. Who was my bravest ?' quoth the king, e corn is trodden, tho river runs red, Vhom shall I honour for this great thing ?" hreo score wero best, where none was . worst; Valter Wetidulph was aye the first," o dying lie with the dead. ' my husband !" quoth the bride, trodden, the river runs red, to-morrow? how long will ho ] ' bride gear, buslc thee in black; iidulph will never come back." 1 ying lie with tho dead. —Augusta Webster.