Page:A New Zealand verse (1906).pdf/286
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250
A Temple Service.
The flowery rods at first that beat
So light and sweet,
Their flowers fell off from them yet fresh,
Thorns tore the flesh.
So light and sweet,
Their flowers fell off from them yet fresh,
Thorns tore the flesh.
people.
“Our gods are great,” the false priests said,
“For their fierce joys
The fire must flow about the head
Of girls and boys.”
“For their fierce joys
The fire must flow about the head
Of girls and boys.”
Prone ’neath their women’s soft queen-hood,
Their lord’s kingship
Smote off the silken servitude
With bloody whip.
Their lord’s kingship
Smote off the silken servitude
With bloody whip.
priests.
“Have ye a garland for your head?”
The wise God said.
“Lo! here a fetter for your feet,
It is but meet.
The wise God said.
“Lo! here a fetter for your feet,
It is but meet.
“For strangers ye My laws forsake,
Their yokes to take;
Think ye to choose the light and small
Nor wear them all?”
Their yokes to take;
Think ye to choose the light and small
Nor wear them all?”
people.
Our hosts were broken in the wars,
And faint of heart
Fled home, and from his shut house-doors
None durst depart.
And faint of heart
Fled home, and from his shut house-doors
None durst depart.