The true northerner., 1879-10-24
HOME INTERESTS.
NY Poetical Experience.


1t has been said that poets are born, no
made; yet there are times in the lives of tn
most prosaic persons when their attention i
turned to "making" poetry; and especially 81
is IN at that age
When every day seems poem,
And every hour rhyme
lhave not been altogether free from the "inclina
tion," and respectfully dedicate he sad re
suit of my unfortunate experience to those whC
read this paper, with the hope of obtaining
the sympathy of those who have suffered from
similar affliction My fall, as will be seen
wa more crushing than that of Napoleon, ano
more distressing than had il been down several
flights of stairs. Prof Catch, at the Willamette
University, which attended, gave out to his
class in"J Juvenal rhetorical exercise instead of
the regular lesson, and / was requested TO pre-
pare poem, and the following is the result
First started
A DREAM.
The stars shone bright, one winter night,
AS musing and dreaming we tarried--
put ! was aware no one knew we, ana
that we" couldn't tarry and dream at the
same time very WELL so | tried
THE BAcHELoR's COMPLAINT.
The world ne'er thinks IL coldly greets
Such a crusty old bach. as au-
But as l was unable 10 get rhyme for !
am, stopped instanter, aud thought would
GONE DAYS
love to think of the merry days
That spent in my childhood's home;
Ere my heart was estranged-
And there / stopped. Reason; the subject
had been worn out by gushing schoolgirls and
rhymes-made- -to-order poets long ago. Not
discouraged ventured
THE GOLDEN CAsKEr.
Leagues, leagues away in a distant land,
Where the surging waves beat the shimmering
sand,
And the cry of the gull
Again l paused. l intended to write ro-
mantle poem, but as no one cares whether sea
gulls cry" or the "waves beat the Shore" l re-
solved no more to dwell on such nonsensical
lore Therefore, to redeem my despairing fac
ulties, boldly commenced the
SOLDIER ON GUARD.
am thinking tonight, as my vigils keep,
OF the home far away where my family sleep:
OF the vince covered cot meath the sunny skies.
want TO see 'em again and see their eyes
This was rather a surprise and inelegant,
and my practiced eye did soon descry the error
10 lie in the fourth line; 80
''wEPT, wEPr IN TEARS"
The silent tears fall gently down
Across my sunburnt CHEEK;
sigh in rain for the hopes and Joys
OF years
Soon / perceived the absurdity, for anyone
would know person couldn't weep" in
smiles; of course it must be in tears. "
Therefore 1 dropped that at once and stopped
and cried; then began and tried
AMBITION.
Loftiest theme of poets song
And grander far than all the
Dark shadows of oblivion's relentless grasp |
But, like many modern high-fown poems, |
the rhyme didn't chime in proper time to suit, |
and TO boot desired to try my pen on
THE wouLD-BE.
want 10 be poet
But hardly think will,
For have got throat
Which is sore-still.
mean to try and conquer
fill at last firmly stand,
And boldly oer earth saunter,
would-b poet-really the
Greatest in the land.
But won't plagarize: I'd steal the tail-feath-
ers Of a dead rooster before I'd do that
my poem" was not forthcoming at the rec-
tation. l often wonder if our successful
poets ever had such an experience |
think not To them the songs of the birds,
the dew drops, and cataract, are the poe
try of nature, but to me they are the language
of that region can never enter. 10 them the
varied scenes painted upon the canvas of ma
ture is a never-ending epic, whose sweet /
cadence and flowing murmurs charm the ever
listening ear of genius. love the music, but
cannot produce it. l.. III WELLS.
ROsEBURG.