26 FEBRUARY 1881, Page 16

POETRY.

CHILDREN AND LOVERS.

We were children, playing together, On Mona's magic isle, In her witching April weather, Of laughter, and sigh, and. smile. We were children, playing together, For a happy, happy while.

We were lovers, straying together, So lightly over the land, That we scarcely ruffled the heather, Hardly printed the sand.

We were lovers, straying together, On Mona's fairy strand.

And still there are children playing On the self-same shore and hill; And still there are lovers straying By Mona's elfin rill; For our children are round us playing, And we,—we are levers still.

ALFRED PERCIVAL GRA.VES.