Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-01-17
NATIVE GENIUS.


zas much excellent poetry. They very forci-
bly,. and we fear with as much truth As power,
depict the destinations by which the votaries OF
poeiical fame are too often allured from the
simple Joys" Of their domestic homes" into
the fiowery, but fruitlsss, wilderness Of Fancy,
to perish under the influence of poverty and
disappointment.
If MIR SIMMs had not already given to the
public, in his "Early Lays" Lyrical and Other
Poems," and in the "Southern Literary Ca
zet,e"-of which he is one Of the gifted edit,
ors-incon,estibIe proofs that he possesses
richly endowed genius, there exists in these
verses conclusive evidence Of the fact. For,
while they abound in those lofty and pictur-
esque conceptions which are unerring cbarae>
teristics Of a vigorous and comprehensive ina.
gination, they are imbued with such lively sym
patty for the oes Of the melancholy vicum OF
the Muse, and, particularly in the concluding
s,anzas, breathe such a spirit Of tenderness, as
infAlibly indicate the thrill ipgsensibili,ies Of
the poet.
from the Charleston Courier
I'm YeGQhk Inc VOTh ~ an sIHeTtel" oes, U"o oss"
for tcGnt.
BY WILLIAM q. sIMMs, JR.
And thou hsM toiied, poor wretch, tor empty fame
Hast struggled with the evils that beset
The wandering herd of aspirsnts for name,
Nor won the need that thou hast sought for, yet.
Battered thy hfe-thy life of life thy heart
Given up its sacred Businesses, TO be
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS may scarce impart
from he In thee.
III.
Hast strugg led in the whirlu nd-sought the storm
Leaped to the tempest, JOY ID in ITS embraced
Nor deemed myself the lonely, desolate worm,
That dies at last, and scarcely leaves its trace
Nv.
Thou hast been as a laborer in the fields,
And laid thy fortunes out in shining rows,
And deemed the profit that thy labor yields,
recompense tor ali thy overthrowsi
".
Till the winds lift on high thy scattered grain,
And hurl thee, with thy hopes, upon the ground;
Laugh At thy fortune, aud dsr'de thy pain,
While with thy groans, thou 6llst the cities round
W.
And men assemble to behold thy grief,
And wonder, desolate wretch. that such as thou,
Shoulust garner up Try PROSTATE hopes III chief,
In such fra ruins as thou weep'st DER now.
VII
What hadst thou, Citizen, to do with fame,
What madness led thes, to believe, tina, she,
The Muse, to whom thou profferd'st life for name.
Would lend her smile. and not her frown, to theet
VIII.
She wooed thee, thou wilt say, beside the plough,
And thee to her company sstrsy
Into the forest-lured thee to the brow,
OF ocean hanging Precipce to lay,
And muse on sweet, unuttersble things,
such AS no mortal ever dreamed be tore
Won thee to worship al secluded springs,
And learn, thee wild and truth forbidden lore.
: K.
Came to thee at the morning-came BY night
sought thee at noon. day, when the burning sun,
Has driven thee tar, for shelter, from the sight
Aud with sweet fairy words thy homage won.
. Gave thee a Tyre, and taught thee how to play
Made music for thy heart. with leaves and flowers;
And At the twilight and the dawn OF day,
Filrd with strange melody the vacant hours.
XII.
Even in thy dreams attended thee by night,
Kept thee from slumber, or. IT thou ddst sleep,
Brought many images To glad thy sight
And thou hast walked, not finding them, to weep.
Lights rose to tempt thee, at her high command
dark clouds slorms-gloomy shapes and glorious
forms
Sprung up before thee! meath her plastic hand
EScn tear That Startles, Anu eaCh hoPc 'uss "Ahs.
XIV.
She gave thee all Of these she gave thee more
She gave thee compzn, to cheer thy wsyi
Thou hausi fsmillars versed IN iair! ors,
la trees, and brooks, and mountain wilds away.
XIV
Thy friends were ever in thee-they would lead
hstrsy, thy wandering steps, At early dawn
But they were tyrants too that never freed
Their slsves--'ill every spark OF hfe was gone.
XVI.
These were her gifts to the, did these replace
The simple JOYS fthy domestic homer
The sutbors and the D el,ngs OF Thy race
What were their charms when thou vert led to roam
XVII.
Did they watch by thy sick bed.-.did the Musel
su,g she her wiicheries tnen--and where was she
DID she attend Thy couch, and did she chuse
1owsseh In, look, ss she was watci''d by thee.
XVIII.
She von thee to the wild, IN ! left thee there
And thou vert wrspt in las deepsoiitude; J