THE SWORD OF SONG 
26
And sail—“the waters wild a-wenting 
Over your child !  The left lamenting” 
(Campbell).28  The Ibis head,29 unsuited 
To grin, perhaps, yet does its best 
To show its strong appreciation 
Of the humour of the situation— 
In short, dismiss me, jeered and hooted, 
Who thought I sported Roland’s crest,30 
With wisdom saddled, spurred, and booted, 
(As I my Jesus) with a jest.31 
So here is my tribute—a jolly good strong ’un— 
To the eunuch, the faddist, the fool, and the wrong ’un ! 
It’s fun when you say “A mysterious way32 
God moves in to fix up his Maskelyne tricks. 
He trots on the tides, on the tempest he rides 
(Like Cosmo); and as for his pace, we bethought us 
Achilles could never catch up with that tortoise !” 
No flyer, but very “Who’s Griffiths ?”*  No jackpot ! 
I straddle the blind, age !  At hymns I’m a moral ; 
In Sankey, your kettle may call me a black pot. 
Here’s diamond for coke, and pink pearl for pale coral.  
Though his mills may grind slowly—what says the old hymn?33 
Tune, Limerick !  Author ?  My memory’s dim. 
The corn said “You sluggard !” 
The mill “You may tug hard,” (or lug hard, or plug hard ;  
I forgot the exact Rhyme ; that’s a fact 
“If I want to grind slowly I shall,” 
A quainter old fable one rarely is able 
To drag from its haunt in the—smoke room or stable ! 
You see (vide supra) I’ve brought to the test a ton 
Of tolerance, broadness.  Approve me, friend Chesteron ! 
So much when philosophy’s lacteal river 
Turns sour through a trifle of bile on the liver. 
But now for the sane and the succulent milk 
Of truth—may it slip down as smoothly as silk. 
“How very hard it is to be”34 
A Yogi !  Let our spirits see 
At least what primal need of thought 
This end to its career has brought : 
* “Who’s Griffiths ?  The safe man.”  A well-known advertisment, 
hence “Who’s Griffiths” = safe. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Slowness of 
Divine Justice. 
Poet pockets 
Piety Stakes. 
National An-
them of Natal. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
But this talk is 
all indigestion. 
Now for  
health. 
Reasons for 
undertaking  
the task. 
 
 
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