Page:A New Zealand verse (1906).pdf/62
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
26
A Leave-taking.
See, I have poured o’er plain and hill
Gold open-handed, wealth that will
Win children’s children’s smiles,
—Autumnal glories, glowing leaves,
And aureate flowers, and warmth of sheaves,
’Mid weary pastoral miles.
Gold open-handed, wealth that will
Win children’s children’s smiles,
—Autumnal glories, glowing leaves,
And aureate flowers, and warmth of sheaves,
’Mid weary pastoral miles.
Yonder my poplars, burning gold,
Flare in tall rows of torches bold,
Spire beyond kindling spire.
Then raining gold round silver stem
Soft birches gleam. Outflaming them
My oaks take ruddier fire.
Flare in tall rows of torches bold,
Spire beyond kindling spire.
Then raining gold round silver stem
Soft birches gleam. Outflaming them
My oaks take ruddier fire.
And with my flowers about her spread
(None brighter than her shining head),
The lady of my close,
My daughter, walks in girlhood fair.
Friend, could I rear in England’s air
A sweeter English rose?
(None brighter than her shining head),
The lady of my close,
My daughter, walks in girlhood fair.
Friend, could I rear in England’s air
A sweeter English rose?
XIII.
A Leave-taking.
The seamen shout once and together,
The anchor breaks up from the ground,
And the ship’s head swings to the weather,
To the wind and the sea swings round:
The anchor breaks up from the ground,
And the ship’s head swings to the weather,
To the wind and the sea swings round: