# Poems (May)

POEMS
BY
EDITH MAY.
A NEW EDITION,
WITH
MANY ADDITIONS.
PHILADELPHIA: PUBLISHED BY E. H. BUTLER V CO. 1856.
Preface.
Much and often as the threshold of fame is profaned by wilful or mistaken intruders, there is something inexpressibly sacred and touching in the first timid footsteps toward its shining altar, taken by the young and pure aspirant who is obeying a beckoning hand which the world cannot yet see. The feeling of deference and honour with which one recognises the mien and utterance of true genius, is mingled irresistibly with the thought of its counterbalancing ills—the thirsts for which common life has no water, and the keener sensibilities, for which human allotment has neither protection nor allowance. At the same threshold, too, stand the crowds of rejected and dis​appointed, 'who vindictively dispute the claim and discourage the hesitating footsteps of the new comer; and, for these ills—tracking genius as they do to the grave—neither the viewless lips which give words to what no other mortal could have uttered, nor the "second sight" which reveals what no other mortal could have seen, nor the consciousness of a higher nature when alone, nor the whispers of spirits and angels which are never found not to have been human thoughts till envy and malice have poisoned all else, seem to be a sufficient compensation. One looks upon youthful genius, thus double-laden with gifts and ills, as one sees the victim prepared with bright flowers for the knife.
It is not one of the least of the conventional disregards of genius, that the recognition and welcome at the threshold of fame's temple are chance-given, if at all; and that, in place of a responsible and respectful warden at this gate, where enters what the world should most honour, there is likelier to be found only the base crowd of hinderers and detractors, by whom the timid knock of the young pilgrim is treated as a crime. It is by his chance vicinity to the place where should stand a higher and better autho​rized discharger of the office, that the editor of a public journal may sometimes be the first to see that a fine spirit stands waiting without, and for lack of better usher, he may advance to claim entrance for the stranger. The introducer of the present work to the public is in that position. If it seem that his task might be done with better grace by one having more authority, his apology has been made in what he has just written.
Of the poems in this volume, and of the powers of the fair poetess, the writer has expressed his opinions very fully in the journal of which he is editor, and to which some of them were originally contributed. Beautiful as these early productions are, however, he looks upon them mainly as promises. They have been written upon the leaf of life first turned over after girlhood—in the lap of luxury and seclusion, with no inspiration save what comes from the instincts of the heart and conversance with the romantic scenery around her home. They are literally the fore-reachings of genius which anticipate the teachings of experience.
How Edith May would sing of the realities of life, hav​ing thus hymned her chant from the far shadows it throws upon her imagination, those who have watched the tuning of inspiration by sorrow and struggle will easily conceive. The single poem of "Te Deum Laudamus," which will be found on a succeeding page, shows the port and mien of one whose walk in the highest fields of poetry would be that of inborn stateliness and fitness. The rhythm has an instinctive power and dignity, showing the key to which the mind is habitually toned, and the conception and management of the subject are full of originality and beauty. Those who read this and the other poems will have had a star named to them, for whose future place and shining they will look; and, in this first announcing of a light that is to be recognised and brighten hereafter, is to be found the main errand which the introducer would claim for the present volume.
N. P. Willis.
To
MY MOTHER,
This Volume
is affectionately dedicated.
Contents.
E. B. Mears, stereotyper.C. Sherman, printer.
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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