Kingston Collegiate and Vocational Institute - Times Yearbook (Kingston, Ontario Canada)

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KlNc3.r1'oN cou.i,eGiA'rs 4-1-ocA1'loNAi. lN:'rrru'rs A CANADIA POET B5 kind permission of the famous Canadian poet, Mr. Nathanlel A Benson the Times publishes the following two poems EPITHALAMIUM QA Wedding-Songj For N.W.H. 8: C.T., july 9, 1927 THE INVOCA TION Awake, awake, G silver-sounding lyre! Awake, O golden lutes to hymn this day VVhere love rekindles all her ancient fire And burns the past's dim paltriness away! Let hymeneal songs enchant the air And happiness be hymned unto the skies Flowing in measured beauty everywhere, To-day we light a hearth that never dies. No purple robes are here, no saffron veils, Nor storied splendor of the ancient rite But shining still, Love's ship serenely sails Majestic and unconquered through the night If we are born in a less glorious time Unlettered and less mighty in the arts, We still may sing in sweet and tender rhyme The inward fire that burgeons in these hearts. No virgins bear our maiden from her home, Nor youths escort the happy bridegroom here But here are hands as stout as those of Rome And here is joyance deep and full and clear. Awake, awake then, silver-sounding lyre, Awaken, golden lutes to hymn this day Where Love rekindles all her ancient fire And burns the past's dim paltriness away, VVhere Love renews her white ecstatic fire And marriage-songs resound their joyful lay. I. Who are these with jewelled sandals Speeding to the spreaded feast, Bearing the bright spirit's candles, Clear as islands in the east Clear as golden clouds in morning All the coasts of dawn adorning? Follow they the white-robed priest, Hearken to the organ's pealing, To the strong triumphant strains Now loud swelling, now soft stealing, Now an echo faint remains. These the twain who touch the tree Of the fruits of constancy, Whose full joy doth pass the seas And the far Hesperidesg These the twain who vigil kept While less faithful lovers slept By the sacred fire, These the twain to whom are given Hopes that angels guard in heaven, Sing of them, my lyre! II. Safe from all desertion's fear Safe from loneliness Free from friendship's bitter spear Free for happiness, Bound, not by a golden ring But a stronger, deeper thing Richer than all secret treasure, ..-59.-.

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6 KINGJTON c:ou.n.EGlA'rs VOCATIONALC uN.f'rlTu're 9 W'ater Seller at Cairo. ing we drove to the pyramids by moon- light. The pyramids and the Sphynx-those vast monuments of another civilization- filled us with a deep sense of awe and pro- found wonder. The whole scene that night was one calculated to burn itself indelibly on the mind of everyone present and also to thrill us beyond measure to the very depths of our imagination. The seemingly endless expanse of desertg the pyramids themselves, the vast shapely structures of stone presented as massive silhouettes against the moong the multitude of people and-what filled us with delight and brought to our minds with a rush the story of the three wise men--a camel caravan, with the black faces and hands of the drivers out- lined by their loose flowing white robes. During our stay at Cairo we spent much of our time wandering about the bazaars. NVhile amusing ourselves at this delightfully interesting occupation one day, we felt a gentle draught of air on the backs of our necks. We turned sharply around to find two little black lads fanning us with their long oriental fans. From Cairo we went via Kantara and Ludd to Jerusalem. Here we spent a great deal of our time visiting the various Mosques and churches. No one is allowed to enter a mosque with shoes on. They must either satisfy their curiosity while in stocking feet or pay a few cents for a kind of footwear which goes over the ordinary shoe. We also paid a visit to the Hebrew University which will give its first degrees this spring. We travelled over the Via Dolorosa which is the road Christ travelled carrying the cross after having been sentenced by Pilate. Then we visited the Dead Sea. Here some of the party went in swimming and were much amused to find themselves unable to sink, try though they might. They could remain floating in a standing position, or relax, lie back and take life easy. It was a real thrill. We paid our respects after this to Jericho and stayed at the Good Samaritan Inn, Our next trip was to Bethlehem. Here we visited the church which stands on con- stant guard over the spot where our Saviour was born. From Bethlehem we took a day and went to Nazareth and Capernaum. When back once more in Jerusalem we were entertained at a reception held by the Educational Authorities of jerusalem. The following afternoon we were entertained at afternoon tea at Government House by Lord and Lady Chancellor. On the after- noon of this tea we were most unfortunate in that the taxi men went on strike and we were forced to resort to very old fash- ioned carriages, each of which seated three people and was drawn by a team of horses. We recrossed the desert and returned to Port Said where we boarded the Rawal- pindi, which carried a crew of East In- dians, and sailed to Marseilles. From Marseilles we motored to Cassis on the French Riviera, then returned to Marseilles and on to Paris. When we arrived in Paris we had the first rain since leaving London. At Paris we were entertained by the directors of the French Colonial Exhibition. From Paris we went to Lon- don, to Southampton, to Canada and home. Garden of Gethsemane. ..S8-.

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VOCATIONAL INJTITUTE 6 Kluclrireiiil I l - ,A I i I Passing the swift hour's pleasure, Mighty beyond every measure, , They are held, For with links of love they bind Heart and spirit, soul and mind, Firmer bonds they may not find These they weld. I invoke for them Black Fear! See his mantle spreading here- Torn in twain by hands thrice-dear With strength they dreamed not of With hands made strong by love! III. What is love? 'tis but the blending Heart with heart: 'tis sorrow's ending, 'Tis the fire in the shade, 'Tis the jewel of dreaming made A bright reality. What is love? where neither falter 'Tis the ring and priest and altar, 'Tis the music of one heart By another heard apart, 'Tis immortality. IV. Let me then by true love linger A deserted idle singer Whose poor songs, sung day to day, Are borne by wanton winds away, Whose poor want of music takes From the wedding-song he makes Music never known, Joy he feels his own. May all the dreams I ever had And all the joys I never knew Be yours to-day, for poets glad Dare sing the wonder gained by you. Awake, then, all my lyric power Make melodious this hour, Make this bud eternal flower! Awake, awake, O silver-sounding lyre, Awake, O golden lute to hymn this day! For even ashes blown from one pale pyre Fall light as rose-dust on your welcome way. TRIS TESSE T611 me, S0rrOw Tell me, Lover What is life? VVhy you dream Brings to-morrow O11 f01'9V91' Only strife, Of 3 gleam And the loss of all things lovely That has made a noon of midnight Out of life? By your dream? T611 me, Beauty, Tell me, Loved One, Dare you last? Vvllat is faith? 15 your duty Whom 'tis proved on To be passed, If a wraith Yet to leave your first fair wonder IS fOU11d the laSt fulfillment With your last? Of YOUF faith? None will tell me Until Death Comes to knell me Steal my breath, And the sunrise shall bring wisdom Out of death. ..50-