St Johns Ravenscourt School - Eagle Yearbook (Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada)

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ykSa Horn Today it looks like an old man, Weak and feeble; it’s visage Scarred by the abuse of the elements; It’s innards gnawed away by man. Once it did stand, proud and noble, But now it’s stature seems less. In past days it stood alone On the big bend of the Red. Today it is only a part of a cluster Of newer, more useful buildings. But the old man, he has knowledge; A character that no others can copy. Many men, once boys in that house, Look back on it and reminisce. Soon it will be my turn. — Helmut Verges VI H%m He Woa A star foretold his coming, So they say. Born among the humblest of beasts, Destined he was To be the savior of mankind. Teacher of all men, is he, Son of God! Or conceived of man, was he? God of Hope! Greatest of men was he. — Brad Palmer V Mu Below men live, and fight, and die, Starred eagles drop their tone of death; And ’mid the guns, you hear the cry Of those who do not understand. The cry of peasants rent with pain, The cry of soldiers facing death. Bombs! screech the hawks, and screech again, Peace! coo the doves, from safely afar. But still the eagles dot the sky, And still men dumbly fight and die; And ’mid the guns you hear the cry Of those who do not understand. Oh to be a sailor, To sail upon the sea, With the wind blowing strong And vibrating ’gainst me. Oh to see the waves, Playing along the side, And thrusting themselves upon the rocks With the continuous rise of the tide. The sea is full of beauty, That reaches far away, And when I look into the mist, My soul begins to pray. My heart is filled with sorrow, As my life-time fades away, Like the waves that cross the sea Into another day. — Ian MacDonald IV 9i dt? Are we only dreaming When we think this world is real? Are we in the true world When in sleep our senses steal What seems is often not what is And truth not always so. That fragile bubble if poked may burst, And shake us with its blow. The murky mist that clogs our minds Might never clear because, Things that are may cease to be Then who can what was. O Where is that standard That nothing can refute; Where is that fixed star Final reference, absolute. Until the day man’s lowly brain Can comprehend his state, The world will stay a problem, And perplexity our fate. 84 — Lawrence Thompson IV — Jim Lawson VI

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Sedm T I O s

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JmmiCodMl In Canada there has lately been talk of increasing the restrictions upon the handling and ownership of small arms. Already the laws governing handguns are very strict and even lately there was a piece of legislation mak¬ ing the existing firearms control laws even more rigid. This is due to several things. The increase in the num¬ ber of maniacs who have turned sniper, and a tendency to follow the ideas of the United States are the most important of the causes. The U.S. is also discussing this idea. Playing a smaller part are the numbers of armed robberies, murders, and accidental shootings. Usually firearms are used for self defence, hunting plinking, and serious target shooting. I doubt if many of those people c rying for more firearms control have ever knowingly got any enjoyment out of shooting. A- side from military purposes, the number of normal, le¬ gal uses for firearms seem to be few. If the critics would look a little farther, or think a little more, they might see things a little differently. Besides providing fun and enjoyment for thousands of people, men and women, shooting also has a prac¬ tical side. In some areas there is not enough food to support the entire wildlife population during the winter, and unless they are thinned out, many animals starve. The government usually sets a game limit with this in view so that the number of animals will be kept reason¬ able. The money that the hunter pays for his licence to shoot ducks or deers goes to set up parks and preserves and pays for wildlife conservation programs. The use of firearms by thepublic may have some bad effects which need correcting, but the rigid controlling of firearms is not the way to do it. Strict gun laws would make shooting difficult and sometimes impossible for the honest sportsman, while doing little to hamper anyone wanting a firearm who is going to break the law. It would be unlikely to decrease the crime rate which is also partially aided by the easy availability of knives, clubs, poison, and many other things. In all likelihood it would increase the illegal handling and smuggling of arms and would promote ignorance of proper shooting and gun handling, due to lack of familiarity. The gun laws so far have not hampered shooting seriously except in some cases, and so far only apply to handguns and machineguns. But if they progress, all shooting could be jeopardized. Are strict gun laws really necessary? It would seem more sensible to restrict all cars that travel more than seventy-five miles per hour. There is really little need for them, but their accident rate dwarfs the civilian toll taken by firearms. — John Anderson VI He sits in the room with the gun on his knee, And the bright blue barrel is cold on his hand, And it shakes when he lifts it, but soon he will see It obey his unthinking and daring command. He moves to the window and peers at the throng. There are some dressed in white for the weather is hot. They are laughing and jostling like nothing was wrong. He’s the only one there with his stomach in knots. The murmer grows loud and a big car appears He is standing up straight as he smiles and waves, And the air is quite friendly, for he sees and he hears. Only those who determine how a big crowd behaves. His hand leaps to action and opens the bolt, And it clicks once again as the bright yellow brass Disappears, and he crouches and tightens his hold, So the muzzle won’t move as he glares through the glass. The delicate hairs are imposed on the chest. His finger is slippery with oil and sweat, As it tightens. Who in the crowd could guess He is going to do something they will never forget. At the deafening crash his heart skips a beat, And the rifle jumps as the sharp pointed spitzer Goes humming and spinning and tearing through meat And muscle. It enters one side and escapes through the other. His hand moves like lightening, there’s thunder once more, And the second one strikes as the clattering case From the first is sent dancing over the floor. The tall figure crumples with pain on his face. He abandons the rifle and bolts for the door. He has shown them all something they’ll never forget, But now as he runs he is hurt to the core, ’Cause now all his feelings are fear and regret. — John Anderson VI 85