Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-06-06

szssszz
bubbles of her hesr.--snd yet each mockss
ould gladly sell his soul for sweet crumb
roll beneath his tongue.
RURAL HOMESTEAD,
ong the green lsues Of Kent-green sunny lanes
here troops of chidren shout, and laugh and play
hd gather dsses, stood an antique home,
thin its orchard rich with ruddy fruits
lr the full year was laughing in his prime
cath of sill flowers grew in that garden green.
I'd the old porch with its great oaken door
as smothered in rose-b blooms while DER the walls
he honeysuckle chung deliciously.
sore the door there lay plot Of grass.
owed DER with dases,-fower by all beloved.
nd f4mousest in song-and in the midst.
carved fountain stood. dried up ard broken,
b which peacock stood and summed itself;
eneath, two petted rabbits ssowy white,
luatsed upon the sward.
row of popars darky rose behind,
round whose tops and the oldfashioned vanes,
hite pigeons huttered, and DER all was bent
fhe mighty sky, with sailing sunny clouds
ne easement was thrown open, and within
boy hung DER q book of poesy.
lent planer hanging Ger the sea.
b at the easement open to the noon
anne sweetest garden orders, and the hum
he drowsy hum-of the rejoicing bees,
esvened in blooms that overload the wallis
nd the cool wind waved it upon his brow.
Nnd stirred his curls
As'an artist we think Alexander Smith shows
be want of high culture. He does not turn to
be best account his profuse wealth of materials.
ais imagination reigus over his other faculties,
ind moves free and stately in tine infinite realms
IF Nature; but its expression wants the fine, ar
istic symmetry, which reveals the plastic touch
IF true Master. He brings an open heart to all
he mystic influences of sun, stars, aud sea; often
makes an original use of their natural sugges-
lions; but often his fancies run wild; and his
language becomes forced and artificial. One
might trya curious experiment in noticing the
variety of images which he draws from the sea.
Tha lnvas oftha Ocaau wi shnre pfford bin,
ayorite source of illustrations; but other aspects
OF the sea perpetualy brought into view,
that in reading his volnme. we are almost made
10 smell the salt water. We give below a few
Instances of this kind, many Of which will i'm.
press the reader, as they have ourselves, with
|seir exceeding beauty We think, however.
that Alexander Smith is altogether too extrava-
giant in his demands even on the capacious fouu.
tains Of the sea- and submit that Shakespeare and
other poets with whom he has been too rashly
eompaie ed, have observed wiser temperance in
this respect
Better for man,
Were he and Nature familiar friends!
His part is worse that touches this base world.
Although the oceans inmostheart be pure,
\ ct the salt fringe that daily ticks the shore
Is gross with sand
Oh he was rich
Aud rejoced upon his shore of pearls,
A weak enamored sea.
wilt write of some young wanton of an isle
Whose beauty so enamored hath the sea,
1t clasps it ever in its summer arms
And wastes itself away on it in kisses.
When the great universe subsidies in God,
Ev'n q moment foam subsidies again
Upon the wave that bears it.
A silent isle on which the love sick sea
: Dies with faint kisses and murmured Joy.
Be unlanguaged like the earnest sea,
Which strives to gain an entrance ON the shore.
But ne er can shape unto the listening hills,
The lore il gathered in its awful age;
The crime for which it's dashed by cruel winds
To shrieks, mad spoomings TO the frighted stars
The full-faced moon sits silver on the sea-
The eager waves lift up their cleaning heads,
Each shoulderlng for her smile.
Thy spirit another breaks in joy.
Like the pleased sea white-breasted shore
shore that on her alluring brows
Rare shells far brought, the love gifts of the sea,
That blushd tell tale.
Sweet sinIess one
My heart is weak great globe, all sea.
1t hnds no shore to break on but myself:
SO let 1t break
The peevish sea-
Frets gainst the bullying bosoms of the ships
Whose KEGS have walked itfrom its hours rspose
The garrulous is talking to the shore.
Let US go down and hear the greybeards speech.
Oh. as a weary wave
Subsidies upon the shore,
My hungry being with its hopes, its fears
My heart like moon charmed waters, all unrest,
Yet strong as is despair, weak tears,
Doth faint upon thy breast
A tide OF awe,
And love. and wonder from the infinite,
Sweils up within me, as the running brine
From the notwithstanding, wide heavening sea,
Grows in the creeks and channels of stream
Until 1t threats Its banks
Such is the staple of Alexander Smiths poe
try. Like his own Walter and Violet. his chief
JOY is to draw images from everything; and ina
ges lie thick ''upon his table, as shells ocean
sands" There is no regular plot no pervading
thought in the volume. He does not write un-
der the aspiration of kindling idea. His soul
breathes in an atmosphere Of voIuptuous soft
ness. But he has too much rich vitality to be
called effeminate. He delights in form, 10
color, in sweet sounds, in delicious odors, his
is not yet unsealed to the voice of the spirit,
or at least, only catches its far off echoes. But
occasionally he rises to higher sphere. Bursts
of noble aspiration reveal the soul of the poet,
stirred by the significance of life aud the divine
purport of the Universe. For example, take the
following description of
THE POETS MISSION.
A poet must ere long arise,
And with regal song sun crown this age
As saints head is with halo crown'd-
One, who shall hallow Poetry to God,
And to its own high use, for Poetry is
The grandest chariot wherein king shoughts ride
One, who shall fervent grasp the sword of song,
As a Atern swordsman grasps his kseDest blade,
To find the quickest passage to the heart
mighty Poet whom this age shall choose
To be its spokesman to all coming times,
In the ripe full blown season of his soul,
He shall 60 forward in his spirits strength
And grapple with the questions OF all time