The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-12-19
GREENWOOD LEAVES

year ago, the lady known to readers Of the
roruar magazines and literary weeklies as Grace
Greenwood gave the public a selection from her
earlier prose writings. This book, Greenwood
Ieavesp has been too often and too favorably
noticed to require further review; and we intro
Jnce il here only to indicate one source of the
materials from which we estimate its authors
literary capacity. Everybody will be glad to hear
that second volume is now before us, consisting
Of selections from her Poems. And before speak
ing of its contents we must praise the elegant ap-
resrance of the book--a characteristic in which
Nessrs Ticknor, Reed, & Fields are outdone by
no publishing house in the country. The friends
Of the authoress will also be pleased to see her
r,rfraiE engraved from an excellent painting by
Mr. c. G. Thompson.
The Poems in this volume have, we believe,
without exception, appeared before, and been
widely and admiringly read. Their republication,
therefore. seems more a response to call from
the su,hor,s friends than fresh adventure for
literary reputation. This fact might almost seem
to remove them beyond the pale Of criticism, even
did not the writer's evident care in giving her
best things and her modest wish that they be re-
garded in the light Of a promise, rather than
performance, render minute analysis impertinent.
Yet we may be excused for speaking briefly Of a
few characteristics of the volume, and calling at
tention to a few favorite passages and poems
We think the authors reputation will gain by
the appearance of her poems in this manner.
If fha hos n
special claim upon our attention. There may be
room for carping criticism in the inspection Of
the articles separately Part Of them are some
what deficient in that felicity of expression and
artistic proportion which make the difference be-
tween fine metrical essays and poems. But when
we read the book as a record Of some of the best
hours of its authors life-trace the living chain
that holds the parts tOgether-linger over pas
sages of rare power and pathos and lines so exqui
sitely wrought that any enc ofthem would of itself
declare the presence of poetic genius, we arrive
at a better Comprehension of the ability Of the
writer We can almost imagine the work was
written at few successive sittings so rapidly are
we borne along by the sweep of its strong passion
and bold harmony The vitality Of the author
is wonderful There is life enough in the book
to make half n dozen good volumes-lifc so full
and free that, rather than endure suppression, 1t
will Uazs into utterance. These poems carry
their own apology in that they were written be-
cause the author could not help it. The channel
by which pent-up stream reaches the surface Is
hardly subject for lectures from professor Of
bvAr "A he otn thaffa rhut ms
Of a soul toiling out Of night into day. cannot be
scanned by n mere student of Campbell and
Whately. As whole, we receive the volume as
a great promise, from one who knows Of what she
speaks when she talks of the future.
OF the quality of the genius here displayed we
will speak hereafter We would gladly quote
many passages which have delighted us, but space
will not permit, and the poems Of this writer suf-
fer essentially from such process Of mutilation
She pours a continuous tide of life through each
and beautiful as many passages are, they must
be approached along this current Of thought and
feeling to be fully enjoyed. We will therefore
only briefly speak Of few poems which especially
please u.s.
Easing Fhe Dedication, which, though short
anu In prose, is yet an exquisite pOetical gem
and the Proen, we come to the most ambitious
among the earlier poems, "Ariadue" and "Pyg.
malion" Ofthcse we prefer the latter-indeed, in
completeness aud felicity Of execution, il is sur
passed by few Of her later productions The
horseback RIDE is full Of the poetry of motion
and makes us almost curse that "stitch in the
SIDE which stands between our heart and horse
'esh' There are beautiful stanzas in The Re
'ored written out of q more subtle inspiration
nan often comes to its author Dreams !:
powerfully written, and the touching lines To
hereayed Frend,p and 1.-THE Last Gin,n need
~ words Of ours to commend them to all who
nave suffered. There is fine fun In I" Wanted
ioeme.' and The Lost Heart The latter
u exquisite specimen Of the writer's style o.
I'''c Treatment. Many of the poems are trib
''' 20 friendship. or these, we like best "Th'
Love Letter. il we may particularize among
,"' beautiful things Of this Kind. "Dsrkened
,,ourS," THE Dream, |" "The First Doubt, y" Tn,
"'inght Vigil,p aud The May Morning arr
striking productions, and deserve better treat
'"' 'han to be made into catalogue, as here
.,'''rh noble reform lyrics are in,erspersei
trough The volume, Of which we will only men
"'n The Army Of Reform "Constance' is q
rue poem and we commend diligent perusal o.
fragment to fsint-hearted lovers But tn,
p Os' remarkable pieces Of all, to US, are, " Til,
Os' OF To-Day and Arnold de Winkleried'
erAndeur Of conception, and boldness Of exc
a..
sen-ood Leaves Poems. BY Grace Grsenvood
iisEnOr, Reed, Fields ls5OJ5l.