THE NEW PATH.
BY "SFERANZA" (LADY WILDE). We stand in the light of a dawning day, With its glory creation flushing ; And the life-currents np from the pris'ning clay ixtZ i ugh the world ' s great heart are rushing. While from peak to peak of the spirit land A voice unto us is calling : The night is over, the day is at hand, And the fetters of earth are falling ! Yet, faces are pale with a mystic fear Of the strife and trouble looming ! And we feel that many changes are near, Tho' the Lord delayeth His coming. For the rent flags hang from each broken mast, And down in the ocean's surges The shattered wreck of a foundering Past Sinks 'mid the night wind's dirges, But the world goes thundering on to the light, Unheeding our vain presages j And nations are cleaving a path to the Bight Through the mouldering dust of ages. Are we, then, to rest in chill despair, Unmoved by these new elations ; Nor carry the flag of our Island fair " In the onward march of nations ? Shall our hands be folded in slumber when The bonds and the chains are shattered ; As stony and still as enchanted men, In a cave of darkness fettered ? The cave may be dark, but we'll flash bright gleams Of the morning's radiance on it, And tread the New Path, tho' the noontide beams, As yet, fall faintly upon it. For souls are around us, with gifts divine, Unknown and neglected, dying ; Like the precious ore in a hidden mine, Unworked and as useless lying. We summon them forth to the banded war, The sword of the Spirit using, To come with their forces from near and far, New strength with our strength infusing. Let us hear a torch with the foremost bands, Through the Future's dark outgoing; Or stand by the helm, 'mid the shoals and sands Of the river of life fast flowing. Or as guides on the hills, with a bugle note, Let us warn the mountain ranger Of the chasms that cross and mists that float O'er his upward path of danger. For the chasms are deep, and the river is strong, And the tempest is wildly waking ; We have need of brave hands to guide us along The path which the Age is taking. With our gold and pearls let us build the State ; Faith, courage, and tender pity Are the gems that shine on the golden gate Of the.Angels' Heavenly city. O people ! so richly endowed with all The splendours of spirit power, With the poet's gift and the niinstrel-soul, And the orator's glorious dower j Are hearts not amongst us, or lips to vow, With patriot fervour breathing, To crown with their lustre no alien brow While the thorn our own is wreatliing. Ev'n lovelier gifts on our lowly poor, Kind Nature lavishly showers, As the gold rain falls on the cottage doox 1 , Of the glowing laburnum flowers ; The deathless love for their Country and God Undimmed through the ages keeping, Tho' the fairest harvests that grew on our sod Were left for the strangers' reaping. The gentle grace that to commonest words Gives a rare and tender beauty j With the zeal that would face a thousand swords For their Country, home, and duty. Still breathing the prayer for their Motherland Her wrongs and her sorrows taught them : Tho' the scaffold's doom, or the felon-brand, Were the only gifts she brought them. But vre, let us bring her — as eastern kings, At the foot of Christ low kneeling — The gold that symbols our costliest things. And myrrh for the spirits healing. Oh, Brothel's ! be with us, our aim is high, The highest of man's vocation : With these priceless jewels, that round us lie, To build up a noble Nation,
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New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 92, 30 January 1875, Page 13
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639THE NEW PATH. New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 92, 30 January 1875, Page 13
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