New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-10-04
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
A NEW POET.

ETUDEs RJ JSzS A. DoScaS- Phlsdspbi,' C. u. MsIoL
MIR Dorcau's reputation among book readers is not
quite two Yeas old. The expected and demanded
issue Of a third edition Of his poems mCgests what de-
gree Of favor b. la%reached among thelterary world,
and gives hint to speak Of poet whose remarkable
Inent but for the too common fate of truly original
poetry, should have gained him large audience ere
now Studies give title 70 The frstboOk Of young
man, and do not sve believe include al or wholly
she best that MI Dorgan has written though judging
from number Of his lyrics which we cannot pro-
nOunce else than Ierfcct he must possess rare prom
Use beside a wealth of performance if he Will not Ike
many poets who gain in experience but lose IN art
fail at monday to sing us strains as sweet as those
sung at daybreak. But it is the best sgn that with
evidence of genius 6S an artist Air Dorgan shows both
growth and growing. There IS something proudly
modest and progressing in the general title of these
What will first strike all who read Dorgan's
"studes," are, 10 speak readily, their ideality and
characterization. Mr. DOrgan never ceases to be
an dealist aud his t-anscendentalsm appears as no
AfIectation, but conviction and philosophy. We
cannot thint that he belongs to particular SCHOOL
His Is as unlike possible those conventional muses.
who make weak tea from the dead leaves OF Tennysons
park garden 20 far enough in the wilderness OF the
BTOwnngs TO bnng hOne few weeds OF mannensm
wheTewith TO trick THAR garlands; or that pete
school Of New-Englan6ers who walk strattoed IN
Indian file, and oil one way, Singing with one voice
show, however, that the best poetic thought Of the
age has Influenced their authOr Feeling that reminds
of the better part of Poe keenness OF vision that
like Sheey's, and forms that recall Tennyson and
Browning serve Gather the authors essential idea than
TO Indicate want Of originality. To say that Mr..
DOrgan is individually hneSl from Poets Ike Poe and
Shelley, rather than comfortable GENT but has
received good edGcaon FROM his contemporaries IS to
afford, without Immediately drawing upon his poems,
sfair idea of the character Ct his intellect How
ever wrought upon, he is uneeniably unit IN DIS
genius, and Onebah of him does not belong 10
another. His experience, which is his own has set
deeply its seal upon his pages, and he speaks and
eings with that high abandon by which we know the
bard of free spirit "The good stars meet in the
horoscope" Of true poets. and make them of spirit
fire. and dew" DOrgan is ideal. passionate, sensitive
and abstract and il is net surprising that in such
poet fail TO discover what rarely never found
IN those Of his nature, q corresponding sensu0us !
breadth. The genus whose thought is high and deep
may be as deficient in breadth the poet OF lateral
experience il wanting in abstraction; bat things |
being equal, very few will hesitate 10 give !
che palm TO the former We confess |
50 an especial liking of DOgans poems, because how
their merits might be challenged on the score Oh
orthodoxy, in general they are poems simply, entail,
ing poetic vice of moral endings contryed out oil
She easy virtue of pretty metaphor or MONKS OF
doaeons legends expressing moods and ideas that are
tFanscendental, but singing studlous experience ana
not preaching doctrine; suggesting a certain IRE |
Fpensbty which if it he condemned in meaner poets,
constitutes the distinguishing freedom OF the wor-
shippers Of the truth of beauty. Mr. Dorgans ideaty,
his most precious part, We think shows, IN few OF
what are his younger poems, the want Oh some |
balance the seDSUous side Of expression. Such a |
healhful equilibrium TeInyson, above all poets, en-
Joys. Poe, in bis poems Of glOOmiest experience, |
skillfully achieves victory OF art. Mr. Dorgans as
pirat0ns occasionally overlap his art as in the poem
of Legion" which, breathing proud an ambition |
that of ChattertOn and being measHably the eX-
perence Of all poets, interests inerOry because
The poet speaks in the first person. Gnd too intensely
knf fva ID HOW
irregular ana admirable verse. The following is the
beart OF the poem:
low voices chanting mouTniul diities
Trouble tie silence Of ny sleep;
Lie bells that peal in sunken cities,
Stirred by blind motions Of the deep.
They whisper Of the dream departed
And OF the aspiration fed,
The love that persisted broken hearted,
The hope thai smiled and lei down dead.
Oh who shall guide the plow coniented
With hands that might have sWayed lie sNoIt
Heating those lnoarnfnl murmuIs poured.
For who hut l. shah bear this burdenl
Bu all who viii may gather flowers:
Glad spirits OF more blis6inl hoals.
A tratorl Loyal to the beauty
That is fOTeveimoe am Il
lie serveh best who seryeth duty
Though by tomorrow it may die.
IN the succeeding poem, " the Poets Love, which,
with its companion overture 10 the rest OF the
book the author gives expression TO kindred feelings
"For me the flowers their perfumes keep,
For me the stars their choral chants;
And if wake, or II sleep
Beauty, the mystery that pants
For the embrace OF strength, is near
To me unyais her pensve face
And smiles upon without fear
Ia many wild and lonesome place.
We care less for 1.-The Triumph of Truth" which
"a vague and unsatisfactory compared to others.
The Hymn to Night, diseOurses in such good lines
As these Of
The silence of the dead unto the dead
The darkness Of the riddle OF the world =
but will take the memory Ear less than remarkable
q poem as Fate" which has the value and brevity
Ola GEM We have heard that this won for its author
the respect Of Emerson Of whom in the strsngeRess
and depth of its truth it is not unworthy. 1t has
been quoted ere this: ~A-T 4psss3
t"'Vrf TAn. N
These vitbered bands are weak.
But they shall do ny bidding, thosgh 50 mall
These lips are thin and white but shall not fail
The appointed words 10 speak
Thy sheer forgive
Until my task is done cannot die
And then would not live,
"Poppies," is & gendne dreamers abstraction,
parent TO which is Tennysons Lotus Eaters"
IL opens suggestvely;
"wnd faces full Of pain around me glow
Upon the dark and sounds Of wrong
Are IN my ear
And low and clear,
AT 6tfnl intervals bear,
Soothing the discord strains OF solemn song"
We pass such poems as 1.-The Exile" 1.-The Dead
Galomon (which is more poetic Interpretation OF
che old legend than Owen Meredith's6 and " En-
dymion," which though a trte theme was worth the
pains of the poet 10 cOndense volume into one chap
Ger Of eloquent verse-tO give place to two fine ex
amples of Mr.. DOrgan's thought and power. The
former il intense and terrible concspaon-a subtle
drama in twelve lines:
NEDUsA
Say OF nat /, 10 this despair
With sr d miles have guided thee
Art thou 10 blame that 1 am freel
~ ,l.ou oo,Iii.t tlao,