Page 10 - 1942 Hartridge

POEMS BY ELIZABETH H. MAPELSDEN
AUTUMN ELMS
The elms, on bright October hills, f irst stand in beauty bare.
Rising from earth in peaceful curves They etch upon the air
Round trunks, strong boughs, and slender twigs In delicate design,
A thousand thousand branching stems, A symphony of line——•
Intricate tracing on the sky,
Cool form no foliage mars------
The first to spend their fragile gold, The first to net the stars.
A TOAST
In ancient days in Persia
The nobles taught their sons
To ride, to shoot, to speak the Truth. So their story runs.
Thus strong, and sure, and swift, And brave, and free were they—
The flower of their place in Time. As you of yours today.
For Truth is on your lips,
And straight you’ll ride, and far.
I give you praise for what you do, And love for what you are.
------Printed by permission of Miss Hartridge 8