New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-07-02
SOME RECENT POETRY.

WADswoRrH LOSGFELLow 16mo. PIP So Hodsl-
ton. Mifn IL CO.
POEMS. BY MARY T. BLAKE. 12mo. PIP. 2Os housh-
ton. Mihin x co.
YIAGARA AND OTHER POEMS. BY GEoRcE
uoUGHToN. lGmo. PIP 40 HouShto'' Ml'Ain "
The little volume containing Mr.. LongioowS
last poems will neither add 10 his fame nor Getract
from IT, 1t displays all the qualities when nave
ever frightened his melOdious versc-purity, SIM
plicity serenity the thOughtfulness OF the sch"'af
and the refinement of gentle and sympath"uc
nature. There Is "a sweet, attractive grace a
limpid charm: about LOngfellows lyrics which
through all the changes of poetic fashions
can never be obscurcd nor forgotten - IN
the Harbor includes all his last poems with
the exception OF two sOrnets reserved Tor
his biography aud michael Angelo" 4
dramatic poem which is to be given to the public
later Not the least musical poem Of this collection
is that recently published in Inc Atldatic-" The
Bells of San Bias Il is filed with melancholy
ghout there sounds soft and DIS
tant chime. THE Children's Crusade Is ifag-
ment IN which the poet began to narrate the story
of the little pilgrims who went forth from Ger
many centuries ago 10 redeem the Holy Sepulchre,
and who persisted miserably by the way. Inc
piteous legend was which could not but appeal
to his Imagination, and we may be sure
that the poem would have been, in its
piece of verse. The series of little songs in which
he chan.s the procession of tho months are gay or
sombre as beiall the moods OF Nature. October
dreams in sunny haze May is full OF fresh and
dainty bloom and the winds and rains of March
rush /. rough the impctuous lines that celebrate
| them. In the concluding poem. dated January IL,
1882 the lovers Of Longfeliow's pure and tranquil
Muse viii recognize all her accustomed graces 1t
IL entitled Possibilities y:
, Where are the Poets, unto whom belong
The Oiympan heights; whose singing shafts were
Straight to the mark. and not from bows half
But viii the utmost tension OF the thong'
Where are the stately argosies of song,
VI hO,e Rushing keeis maze music as ihey went
Sailing III search OF some new comment,
With ali sal. 90 q ana steady winds and strong
perhaps there lives some dreamy boy, Gutaught
In schools some graduate OF the held or street,
Who shall become a master oil the art,
An admiral sailing the high seas OF Thought
Fearless and tr't, and steering VITA MS neet
For lands nos yet laid down ~ any chart
Mrs Blallc's verses are agreeable III their musical
quality and their graceful ii not original sentiment
Her fancy readily responds 10 the impressions OF
wood and wave and SKY and is stirred to tender
strains by the impulses of maternal affection and
religious fervor The poems in which she sings the
lovableness of childhood are the best which the
volume contains Her music set in minor key,
but it has nothing Of the fashionable desDilrs aud
languors and will please those who prefer the SUD
dued expression of wOmanly feeling to the dramatic
notes of herolsm and passion 10 the prettIhesseS
and quaintnesses OF the latter-day wrists Literature
would lose nothing if such poems as Mrs. B'ake's
were kept for the dedication of the authors DO
nestle circle aud personal friends, but at least they
offend in no way against the rules of prosody and OF
taste-and that is saying good deal in an age af-
Aicted with a nauseous supply of Swinburne-Ind-
ditch-water
Mr. HoughtOn's neat verstcation and sense OF
the picturesque give a modest value to his little
book He is especially happy in the artist feeling
which catches Il mOmentary effect OF Nature, the
spirit as well as the form and color, OF landscape
lie Is less successful when dealing with human ex-
perence wherein he is vague without being suggest
i've. SANDY Hook " is good specimen OF his de-
scriptive manner
White sand and cedarS cedars, sand
Iigh houses here and there; strand
StTrwn DER with driitwood tangled weeds;
A squad of fslI-hawks poised above
The nets, too anXIOuS-eyed To move;
Flame Wcrlng cactus; winged SEEDS.
That a of sunshine lie
Unframed. save by some butterfly;
a sun rcddcning toward the west -
And under aud through all one hears
That mellow voice, Old as the years.
The waves low monotone OF unrest.
SO wanes the summer afternoon
Iu drowsy Stiffness, and the moon
Appears when sudden rOund about
The wlnd-c cock, vince ,-hoarsc fog-hoTns shout
A warning and III gathering gloom
Against the seas wni6e anger loom
Tai shapes OF wreckerS torch IN hand.
Rafting their lIie-bo down the sand!