New-York tribune., 1871-10-24
WINTER 81 POE&Si .

have set my heart upon nothng. you Sec
Aud 80 the world goes well with me,
And who has a mind TO be fellow OF mine ,
Why let him take hold and drain these mouldy Ices
Of wine,"
+b sinoer describes his favOrite comrade as who
has gained freedom of mind by devil-may-care
reckessness, who laughs alike at virtue and shame,
at hone and fear, and at "memOry's dead leaves,
crisp and serer who laughs at the future cold and
dim nor earth nor heaven is dear to him." For his
own part, the poet continues:
heed not custom, creed, nor law;
care for nothing that ever saw.
In every city my cups Quaff
And over my liquor riot Laugh
Ilaugh like the cruel and turbulent wave;
laugh at the church. and laugh at tire grave
laugh at Joy and we'll know
That merrtly, merrily laugh AT woe.
terribly laugh, with an oath and sneer,
When think that the hour OF death ls near
For know that Death is a guest divine,
Who shall drink my blood as drink THIS VINE
And He cares for nothing! q king is He
Come on, old fellow, and drink with me!
With you l will drink to the solemn Past,
Though the cup that drain should be my last
This is gloomy picture of a social condition IN
which despair has trumphcd over faith, and the
brightest aspirations of the soul have been chilled
nnder the dark shadow of doubt; but certain airy
grace is given to the same sentiment i'll the following
poem, "a Song of Rest" which invOkes the blood
and change his weary heart into ruddy wine
Sick and sad INV fancies are
Tired Of peace and tired Of war
Joke OF Jester, prank OF clown
Weigh my heavy eyeiids down.
All PHILOSOPHERS are dredr;
Music : iai gOu in my ear;
Endless tides OF empty talk
Bubble round me where walk;
am deafened by the din
That the world is wrdnGing in;
i am tired Of woe and bliss;
am sick Of all that is.
God OF sunrise, purple wine
Let me lose my soul In thine!
Close my eyes and stop my ears
To all mortal sees and hears:-
Roll Of drums and clash Of swords,
Fretful snarl OF angry words
Church and state and Donu ana lrces
Party, creed, and policy,
Tattle prattle, laugh and groan,
CTOzter, scepter, nag, and throne,
Foolish press, and grand debate
Which Of modes ls small or great,
And what the foreign critics say.
All avails not; might is right;
Life is vApid-day Is night
san Of ruOies, fiery wine..
Burn my being into thine!
80 my dream of death shall bless
Memory with forgetfulness
No more weary, wsstlDS tsN1 thought
No moro dreams Of love-lit eyes,
And silken hair, and tender Nghs,
And kisses, wild and sweet, that shake
The frame OF being!-DOor mistake
Nor that other, just as poor
Toll for praise Of sage or 0OOr;
Fire that Ourns a Kingdom down,
sat = is.st, is.s.t, lnstasa q thssss: tis e..
Holy starlight shining dim,
Organ wall and vesper hymn,
CIentle toll Of distant BELLS
Al that makes the sleeper blest,
In bed of endless rest,
These images of profound repose are brought to a
climax in the following glimpse of the soft kindly
Assusgements Of Nature.
When this farce Of life il DER,
Are we fretted any nOref
De they rest, I'd like 10 know,
Under grass under snow.
Who have gone that quiet way
If they do, itse&nS to me
n.rpy were II thus to be
Sleeping where the Plackberres grow,
Aud the bramRle-roses blow,
And the sunshine pOurs It's gold
While gentle Winds and clouds Of fleece
And ripping waters whisper-Peaee!
The consecutive series beginning with Loves
Ideap and closing with Loves Queen are in
brighter tone Of feeling, and express some of the
manifold traits Of human passion in strains of fine
rhythmical melody. Indeed we think that Mr.
Winters happiest esoEtS are n the gtteTanee Of
spontaneous pstQral (1nmotib1, without indulging
too curious search for the solution Of the natural
riddles suggested by the experience of life His
most artlcss illusions leave a pleasing impress
sion than when he attempts to soar to the giddy
nights Of contemplation. His sense of natural
bealty never slumbers and his best verses are the
apparently unprecedented lays which are poured
forth under its inspiration. If he exhibits dark
picture of human existence he Is always alive to the
charms of the visible universe Even his approaches
10 cynicism are always softened by the influence of
n kindly and generous heart No lurking speer adds
venom to his confessions Of despair. The spectacle
of human weakness calls forth emotion of infinite
pity rather than the indulgence of vindictiveness
and scorn He views the absurdities of his fellow
men ess in the spirit of Mephstopheles than of the
Good Samaritan. His poetry betrays a nature too
abounding in sweet impulses to visit with bitterness
the infrmities of his race.