The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1869-08-26
flights and Shadows"

Our readers will find Lights and
Shadows by Evange G. in the TELE-
GRAPH to-day. In note to the Editor of
the Kenosha TELEGRAPH received with
{" Lights and Shadows" the writer says
" 1t is my first trial of writing poetry
and if its simplicity is Of no worth I
would not have you encourage me to try
over again, by inserting it in your col
umns. Iexpect you will criticise it very.
strongly-Still for all that would like
to see it in your paper if it is worthy of
your notice" We have gratlfed the
writer in giving it place in our paper,
but shall not meet the expectations of the
writer by criticising it strongly. WEI
shall make but one criticism, There is
altogether too much of it. It is two or
three times too long For first trial, a
penn for publication, one third its length
would be long enough. All other criti-
cisms we leave to Evange @. and the read
ers of Lights and Shadows.
AS to encouraging Eyange G. to try
again to write poetry we scarcely know
what to say. We cannot tell from the
name whether the writer is a man or wo-
mana boy or girl. The hand writing
would indicate woman, but it may have
been copied. Inherent evidence would
indicate to US the writer to. be a female,
but whether girl or woman we are not
clear. Not knowing the age or maturity
of the writer we cannot well form an
opinion as to the poetic ability of Evange
G. IF in youth, we should think it we'll
to try again. But before trying again,
we would advise Evange G. and all others
beginning to write poetry, to study poetry
enough to know what it is Too many
think, or write as if they thought, that
rhyme, or jingle, or both together, consti-
tutes poetry, Tt is necessary for writer Of
poetry to know what poetic measure, and
verse, and harmony are, and to apply
them in writing. Let Fvange @. count
the syllables in each line of Lights and
Shadows and then compare the number
in each line in one verse with the mum
Der in the corresponding line Of every
other verse and see what uniformity, or
rather lack of uniformity there is. I'll
there is not uniformity the measure is i'm
perfect, or perhaps there is no measure
Then examine as to long and short, and
accented and unaccented syllables and
compare the syllables of each line oil
one verse with the corresponding svll.-
BILE of each line Of every other verse and
see what correspondence, or rather lack
Of correspondence there is. If there isl
not a correspondence the VERGE is imper-
feet, or perhaps there is no verse and no
harmony
We would say to Evange G. and all
others who write poetry for the TELE
GRAPH that to insure admission of what
they write hereafter, the measure, and
verse, and harmony must be perfect. We
do not say but that we may admit some
poetry that is imperfect in these RESPECTS,
but no such poetry written for the TELE-
GRAPH will be certain of admission.
One word to those beginning to
write poetry, and it would seem to be APP
plicable to almost all writers of the poe
try passing through the papers of the
present day. Beginners better write in
either Iambic or Trochaic verse and in
whatever measure may suit their purpose
and fancy best. Before beginning to write,
decide upon the measure and verse in
which to write, and after having decided
upon them, never depart from them till
the poem is finished. In long poems it
may be allowable to change the measure
and verse, but not in short ones. and
beginners better write butlit5le, and rite,
that little well.