Page 14

THE OKATO 
- Petor Olfass 11oem 
3mpretiwn     of (Vronto 
1. THE MARSH 
Earliest morn o'er the marsh spreads its mystical magic, 
Rousing from slumber its myriad songsters small; 
Waking they wheel a-wing to the sky, whence they call 
Their greeting out to the sun. A gentle and timid breeze 
Seeming afraid to distrub, rustless out of the leaves, 
Down from the roadside willows descending and moving 
Back from its pathway the ruists of the night, then roving 
Aimlessly onward away far across eine earth. 
"Back in your smoky and grimy town go work for a living" 
Voice from no definite source is this--"Here nature's giving 
Stored stocks of strength for the struggles and trials you face; 
Look yet once more on this picture of beauty and peace. 
Hay green, encircling empurpled embankment, the sun:- 
Greatly rejoicing return then, the day has begun." 
2. THE SAWMILL 
A mixture of noise is here: 
The hissing of steam, and the grating 
And rasping of saws in timbers; 
The clahes deafen the ear 
As storm-surf, the sea-coast berating 
Deadens the faraway crying -f sea-birds. 
Outside the walls of the mill 
The din, though softer, still harshly 
Grinds on the car. But farther away 
Remotely the ear often hears, slightly muffled, 
The same noise condensed to a whining whir, 
Softly singing all day 
Distinct and constantly throbbing, nearly unruffled. 
The city lives on in the sound of that purr. 
3. A HOUSE OF GOD. 
The summer sun is setting; in the west 
A !,ng and solitary wind-spread cloud 
Reflects a ruddy light; and lest 
The disappearing day leave all too dark 
The street, through limbs of elms above it bowed 
Each soft ray filters down, a carmine spark, 
And 'midst the sombre shadows softly snows 
Once nr re the light which in the heavens glows, 
A house stands dark against the sunset flame 
Set at an intersection of the ways 
Down which, or day or night, swiftly deploys 
A rushing stream of men and human toys, 
Anon, like me, one srmetimes stops to gaze 
Upon that house which bears his Maker's name. 
Page 14.