The Portland daily press., 1872-11-23
]. Miller, Jr.
(From the Atlanta Weeklu.)

Atlanta has poet. And he went out west
last week for inspiration; neglecting to pay
his bills, among which was three years SUBJ
scription to the Atlanta Weekly. He came
into our office, however, to bid us good bye
t'and departing left behind him, !" inadvertent-
ly,-his note book. So San awful way we
took to our revenge and print part of his
notebook as we found it. And now we
think he will wish he had paid that bill.
EXTRACTS.
Sept. LIST. Have begun my great poem.
Wrote two cantos before breakfast. Cannot
decide on subject of poem.
Sept. I'd. Saw Ed. of All. Weekly. He said
joaquin Miller's poems sold well. Had
begun description of Italian scenery-can
change it. Men,, to alter lines 95 and &C.
Calabria's bandit chieftain proud,
Frowned like tn impending thunder cloud
The dark proved Indian chieftan proud,
crowned like the shadow on Mcleod.
Mel. is mountain, - feet above level OF
sea. Gives local coloring to poem to use
proper names.
Sept 4th. Describe heroine:
Dusky tresses and tall as a pine,
Round brown arms and no end Of hair,
Dark as night ana extremely fair.
Mem, not to let wife see notebook.
Describe home of heroine:
A plain of alkali and sage
Above it the sunsets red hot bars
Like gridiron brOing the half-shell stars.
Sept 6th Can't think of good catastro-
phe. Will ask Ed. of Alt. Weekly to lend
me Friend Langs Indian Reports and back
nos. of Police Gazette.
Sept. 9th. Thought of a fine line
The strange eyed maid with the heart of fire. II
can't find rhyme-mire. sire, pyre, (not
ready for catastrophe) Maria, name of wife's
mother-won't do) aspire, whenever mind
change line
The strange eyed maid with the heart of flame,
called the name Of the same and she came as tame
no, too many rhymes.
Sept 10th. Read description of heroine to
Ed. of Alt. Weekly. Said it reminded him
was standing in front of cigar shop for a
sign. MEN,, shall not pay bill for Weekly,)
Sept 18th. Have thought of a good scene
for poem-hero to murder observation-disclosures
fascinates women-have noticed it in fiction
don't think it would please wife-she has
not the soul of poet. Line lit
did not kill her-I lifted my hand,
And the steel flashed white to the moon and she
And forever and ever hear her yell;
But say and reterate and repeat
Why conldn't the woman have stood on her teet?.
III she coutd hit the blade of an extra sharp knife,
What could she expect? She took her own life!
MEM, to revive heroine. J. Miller always
kills them several times.)
Sept. 18th. Began poem to wife
A golden blonde with milk white hands
fpoet;caJ license-hands red--does the wash
ine-nothing makes woman so unattrac-
tive as knowing how to do anything.)
Ea;r az a flower and slim as a palm ~
She stands in the sunlight cold and calm.
SAINT 18th. Description of sunrise on Mount
Shasta
The sun got up and with golden toe
Kicked the shadows into the sea.
Sept. 18th. Description of herone's father
Tall as peak and grim as stone,
With mighty hands and voice and VIII;
An eye to threaten an arm 20 XII,
And fierce a grizzly and lltne as a snahe,
sort of man that was hard TO take,
And the verdict was-better to let him alone.
sketches from experience-a good deal like
wlfe's father-he let the dog out one evening
mother repaired my clothes = Men,, to
write poem on mother-deceased.)
Sept 18th. Finished poem
A statue OK bronze-I see her vet
AS she stood Ike Ate goddess Of h.
An her voice thrilled with passion and -. ord s,+e
A fash of Jwder-a sound in the air "oo anu ~
That Shasta re-ecboed- the maiien moo as,
sprang my horse and under his tread deau'
Crushed the hope of my life that had bosson,sd az
What there to live for? Only fame ~ i"n
And senseless praise senseless scorn
And bate of life and love Of death
And Pm mortified that ever drew breath
And dislike the day on which was born!
MEN,, to send mss. topri. J