The Cairo daily bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1870-1872, 1871-09-24
SONGS OF THE SIERRAS.
JOAQUIN MILLER, THE POET OF
THE PLAINS.

Sosos OF the sIrRRAs; ny JOAQUIN MiLlEa. Pub.
| lished by Roberts Bros, Boston.
Ten poems are contained in this volume.
Their names are "Arizonian," "with WAL
ker in Nicaragua" Californian" "The
Last Taschastas" "Ina," 1.-THE Tale of the
Tall Alcaldc' "Kit Carsons Ride"
BURNS and Byron "Myrrh," and even
So."
In some respects Mr.. Miller is the most
original poet the United States has pro-
dueed. For the interest which he excites
he does not depend upon the introduction
OF vulgar bits Of realism that have made
the reputation Of one or two vcrsiGers who
are entirely destitute Of his depth an d
strength Of nature In Exit Carsons
Ride" he appears in an exceptional light.
That poem is not typical of his power.
Its a moro caprice, a flash in the pan, the
htful representation of one mood Of his
mind, and that not a very permanent mood.
The poem entitled "With Walker in Mic
arauga" is much more a representative
production, illustrating, as it does, the no.
bleness, the sweetness, the passionate love
OF women and Of nature which are charac-
teristic of Mr.. Miller, blent with that in
genuous alteration that an ardent boy feels
for the man whom he erects into q hero.
For these reasons we incline to consider
the poem we have thus especially men,
| toned, as the purest and strongest in the
| book. 1t is disordered with no dark and
] illegitimate passion, as more than one Of
the other poems are. The breath that
! blows, now vigorously, now tenderly
through IL, is always sweet, fragrant and
healthy. The descriptions Of nature are
made with loving lingering, warm and
conscientious hand. That this is SO, will,
We think, be discerncd in the appended
| quotation
How wound we through the solid wood,
With all its broad boughs hung in green,
| With litchen-mosses trail d between
How walked the spotted beasts ofprey,
| Deep sleeping from the face Of day,
| And dash'd them like troubled food
| Down some defile and denser wood
And snakes, long, 1.-THE and beautiful
As green and graceful.bough'd bamboo,
Did twist and Irvine them through and
through
The boughs that hung red-fruited full.
| One, monster-sized above me hung,
Close eyed me with its bright pink eyes,
Thon raised his folds, and sway'd and
| swung,
And lick'd like lightning his red tongue,
Then oped his wide mouth with surprise;
He writhed and curved, and raised and
| lower'd
His folds like fittings of the tide,
And sank so low l touched his side,
As rode by, with my broad sword.
The trees shook hands high overhead,
And how'd and intertwined across
The narrow way, while leaves and moss
And luscious fruit, gold-hued and red,
Through all the canopy Of green,
Let not one sunshaft shoot between.
Birds hung and swung, green robed and
red,
Or droop'd in curved lines dreamily,
Rsinbows reversed, from tree to tree;
Or sang low-hanging overhead
Sang low, as IL they sang and slept,
Sang faint, like some far waterfall,
And took no note of US at ALL
Though nuts that in the way were spread,
| Did crush and crackle ms we slept.
| Wild lilies, tall as maidens are,
| As sweet of breath, as pearly fair,
| AS fair MS faith rs pure rs truth
Fell thick before our every tread,
As in a sacrifice to ruth,
And all the dir with perfume flld
More sweet than ever man distilled.
| 81. al fr,,tt fro NJ
And hung in hand-reach overhead.
In nest Of blossoms on tho shoot,
The bending shoot that bore the fruit.
How ran the monkeys through the leaves
How rush'd they through, brown clad and
Like shuttles hurried through and through
The threads heavy weaver weaves
How quick they cast us fruits Of gold,
Then loosen'd hand and all foothold,
And hung limp, Timber, as If dead,
Hung low and lstless overhead;
And all the time, with half-oped eyes
Bent full on US in mute surprise
Look d wisely too, as wise hens do
That watch you with the head askew.
, The long days through from blossom'd
trees
There came the sweet song of sweet bees,
With chorus-tones of cockotoo
That slid his beak along the bough
And walk'd and talkd and hung and
Y swung,
q In crown OF gold and coat of blue
The wisest fool that ever sung,
Or had u crown, or held II tongue.
N | Oh when We broke the sombre wood