26 JUNE 1920, Page 17

POETRY.

A PLEA ON BEHALF OF THE WORD "AMAZING."

Amazing :—poor, ill-treated, outraged word!

It has no meaning now :—it is absurd !

The worn-out hack of every scribbling dunce Amazing was a sprightly filly once When old George led her from the Box Hill mews To run "The Amazing Marriage ": but the News (Job-master to the cruellest of crafts) Has dang'd her night and day between the shafts For thirty years :—tamed by the Fleet Street gang Sadly she plods her wooden parasang Roaring aloud; the least-Observed of nags : What wonder is it that she droops and flags Though once so full of fire and sinewy grace ?

Might not some other word, less commonplace, Now take her turn, and let Amazing pass Out of the press, and end her days at grass ?

G. MACKIE.