27 DECEMBER 1930, Page 12

Hearthstone

NOT Vainly have all ages held divine The hearth, the lonely chastities of thought; There nightly is the holy battle fought By dark primeval and the soul a-shine.

The stones are hallowed as the stones that sign A spot among the mountains where men wrought And fought to keep their freedom. There, unbought At last, the heart may murmur : This is mine.

It is most strange that from a square of light Below tremendous heavens man should dare To hurl rebellion in the throat of night ; Should make the phalanxes of stars despair, Should trip the thundering darkness with a sleight And hang its lightnings, trophies in his lair.

GEOFFREY JOIENSON.