North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-04-12
For the North Carolina Standard.

For the North Carolina Standard.
POEMS By GRACE GREENWOOD.
Seldom have we opened volume Of poems which
at the first glance attracted as these have done.
We have long classed Grace Greenwood among the
first prose authoresses Of America but from the few
/ poems we have heretofore seen from her pen were
not prepared to see her take that high stand among
poetesses to which this little volume entities her
not so much from its artistic merit as for its hoD7ey
beauty, its fresh wild flower grace, and bird-like
sweetness of tone. II evidently flows from the heart.
and consequently speaks such poetry only can
speak, to the heart of the reader The wish express
ed in the poem that her lays might be fell rather than
heard, has been granted, for laying down the book
we exclaim, so would we write, !" if zoe could
/ II should have been called Greenwood Flowers, -
for twined with greenwood leaves it forms garland
| of which the most gifted might be Justly proud.
Lightly may il rest the fair brow of the auhoress,
| for convinced as5
mo thorns are hid among the leaves. -
She has never written one line which diving she
should wish to blot" All is pure, high minded,
and refined that from her pen, and this little
book is destined to throw still brighter CLEAN up on
her well earned fame. 1t is calculated to do good,
particularly to the young, from the healthy view it
takes of life and the everyday of life
There is in it none of that false sentiment which
often flows from the pen, if does not exist in the
heart OF Lady writer's. In g. Ariadne we can trace
I" the queenly pride, serenely colo" of truly digni
fled woman. Ariadne is represented as mourning the
desertion of Theseus,
I" Bending like weak and wlted flower,
Before summer evening shower
Like Grace we have little sympathy with her grief,
and think she ought rather Joy bid him go; for
! that love which,
Cold interest or selfish pride,
Can chill, or stay or turn aside,
Is all too poor and slight thing,
One shade DER womans brow to fling,
Of grief, regret, or fear.
W. 81 80 not
Ariadne had loved, but g creature of her Dreams"
GA being glorious in majestic PRIDE"
One who in reality unworthy her love or hatred,
whose memory should pass from her mind like 6
dream of ill., But to be fully appreciated the whole
passage should be read extract cannot do justice
to it.
We were much pleased with :. the Horseback
ride. Let any lover of that most exherating exer-
else read it, and then say her mere description of
its pleasures does not come near causing the queen
in ones nature to put on her crown" than any thing
can do except s.the wild thrilling Joy of fearless
leap fiery steed. " There is citation of spirit
produced by a canter on gallant yourg steed -
which none but those who have felt can realize; and
the writer Drote she felt; this is the prevailing
characteristic of her poetry it seems to gush freely
from the heart, and
Lure awhile the soul away
From care, and grief, and feverish strife,
And make the heart in love with life. "
"My lays, my lays-woud they might find
An echo in my country s heart
Be in its home affections shrined
Form of its cherished things, a part,
Be like wild flowers and common air,
Blooming for ALL breathed everywhere
Be like the glad song of the bird,
Gushing for all, felt more than heard!
"Lines to bereaved friend - are very touching
she bids him on the death Of his wife
Mourn no more-'tRill sadden her in glory,
To know how ceaseessly flow forth thy tears
The following two struck particularly
" She placed her earthly being in thy keeping;
When thou art anguished she be at rest?
Will she not feel the which thou art weeping,
Like swift rain falling on her angel beast -!
And will she not, while now " the new song learning"
Amid its pauses hear thy mournful signs!
Will she not feel vain and painful yearning,
To bear thee peace and comfort from the skies?"
1.-The Dream,'' l." never will grow DID," :. The
last giff,' and Arnold de Winkebed, all deserve
notice. but limits will allow of extracts Turn
now to what in our opinion is the gem of the col
lection" Spirit Lodgings" Those who familiar
with her writings will at once perceive those long,
ings to be real and heartfelt; not poetic dreams
INDUCED in from love of the beautiful, but the fer
vent longngs of young religious heart, ardenty
seeking, and determined to find, :" Lifes glorious
things"
Go on Grace, we bid you God speed in your search,
and hope these Esprit Longings" will all be filled.
May you indeed like the i" fearless ship" upon the
Sea OF Life
''Launch forth all strong and brave,
Wait thro' the lonely tedious calm,
And breast the stormy wave"
Like the Eagle-thy nature hath already,
GA scorn of all things low and mean,
stern and lofty PRIDE
Whilst thy heart, like the swift sivery river,''
Z" laugheth on forever,' "A joyous thing" We
know it to be,
"A loving little heart,
Filled with sweet raptures and wild song.
and sincerely do ne hope, that
Nothing sadden, nothing awe,
Its careless chidlike mirth."
Thou art indeed 'gentle star lit up in heaven"
whose "quiet light comes trembling down." but thy
light shall not be .'quenched at morn.'' No Even
in the rush of daily life, thy words shall hold place
in memory, and will hail with joy - the calm
and holy night" when
I" The days dull cares resigncd
We let thoughts fold up like flowers,
In the twilight of the mind"
Then will the memory of the lesson thou hast taught
come rushing back, and like thee we will
50 Be no more content,
To dream, aspire, and long;
But grasp the grand, the beautiful,
The proud, the iree the strong.
Go on Grace! Leave behind thee s. footprints on
the sands of time.'' Thou in the rght path to
Sc Look upon Life's glorious things,
The deathess themes of song;
The grand, the proud, the beautiful,
The wild, the free the strong"
Go on; we cheer thee with these parting words
Be strong in faith in truth, in ALL