The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-01-21

The Pageant and Other Poems. By Christi
ma G. Rossetti. Boston: Roberts Brothers;
Portland: Loring, Short & Harmony This
most recent volume of Miss Rossetti's poems
impresses the reader somewhat sadly. 1t might
have been written in circumstances of physical
depression, or weariness from work or wealth
or; but whatever is the cause it lacks impulse
and buoyancy. Miss Rossetti's power of ex-
preston has never been facile or voluble-it
seems always little difficult for her to shape
her fancies and make them intelligible; she
has none of thelight, practical touch and the
mutual understanding with her audience that
would lead her to choose what is best for their
hearing. The first poem of her volume, which
she names The Keynote, expresses the writer's
consciousness of singing against songless
mood. The Pageant is a pretty little masque
of months, that as children-and one pictures
them with the round faces and quaint dresses
of Kate Greenaway's wee folk-visit cottage
with songs and gifts. 1t would be extremely
pretty, played by children as a costumed dia-
logue; but reading it with literary leisure, it
seems neither real nor imaginative wholly,
but rather unreal and it lacks shading and
softness of outline. Some very nice effects OF
metre are to be noted. Italia, 10 ii salute! is
full of feeling, and melodious Mirrors of Life
and Death has the "dot-and-carry-one rhythm
irregular short lines which, not precisely po-
etic and quite unmusical, were not inappropri-
ate in the authors Goblin Market-but is very
cramped and insufficient means of expression
for the really rich intention of the poem. The
Ballad of Boding has less OF this fault, but to
the grim imagination of this poem is added a
distinct physical responsiveness which decreases
its actual force Yet Little While is s.gnif-
cant and is, moreover, good verse. The group
of sonnets entitled Monna Innominata are as
graceful in design and artistic in execution as
they are passionate and full of live fire. The
cadences recall Mr.. Dante Rossetti's sonnets,
especially those which are translations from
the italian, and are entirely in the vein Of the
verse-writers OF the time of Dante and his cir
Gle. The ballad of Johnny is little story
which is interesting because Miss Rossetti tells
it with feeling, and because it is said precisely
as she and no other would be likely to tell it
but is far from being poetry, hardly verse.
Maiden May is delicately written. A Fisher
wife is dramatic and direct. Mariana suggests
u IQOSt UubiCdl anu uiOldHCuOlJ oOuS W VAAoo
Rossetti, which sighs as tunefully as the wind
in the South. Boy Johnny is touch Of medi-
@val comedy, prettily done. An October Gar
den has distinct music and atmosphere. Soeur
Louise de la Misericorde has much Of the ca
dence which one associates with the ballades-
within a few years revived in their intricate
harmonies-but would have been much better
had strict rules been followed, rather than sug.
gested while their technical requirements are
left unfulflled. An Old World Thicket is
fine and sustained poem. The religious poems
which conclude the volume are feryent and
characteristic. 1t is impossible to read Miss
Rossetti'swork without recognizing the true
genius which she possesses, and the original
and intense quality of her gift, narrowed by
the limitations of her power of expression, but
rising, not seldom, into phrases of remarkable
beauty.