The Hawaiian gazette., 1885-04-22
Halcmaumau.

On the desk has been laid an unpretentions
looking pamphlet entitled "a visit in Verse to
Halemaumau" the work Of DR.. Frank Cowau.
Local verse has not had much mercy at our hands,
for some Of it has been very poor stuff indeed aud
we will confess that we approached the pamphlet
with fear and trembling. An agreeable surprise
was in store
The preface proved interesting. Dr. Covan in
few concise words, sketches the geological forma-
ton Of the group. giving that due weight TO Mr.
W. l.. Green's theory Of the tetrahedral collapse
which Is now becoming recognized as one of the
most practical yet pat forward and Is quoted at
length IN the latest geological work published. II
the preface sheUs the man Of science, the poem
shegs one skilled in the use OF words mind
stored with poetic imagery, and power Of vivid
description which is the privilege of few to pos
sess.
The subject lends itself readily to description
in blank verse. Many and many a hand has
tried to adequately express in prose the feelings
which the beholder has when first viewing the
"lake Of lava, Haemaumau,' of such descriptions
perhaps the palm must be given TO Miss Birds
But all her exquisite word painting fades before
the strength Of DIR. COwan poem.
1t Is impossible in few extracts to give a foil
idea Of the poem which requires yeading and
reading to thoroughly appreciate it, but the fol-
lowing will give some idea Of DIR. Covan's descrip
tive power. Thus is the frst view Of the crater
described.
| Al length, bcrue over thirty miIe-
/ OF lava in uuuumbsrcd curious forms
sviTlcd, hummoeked, Piuedr eHsrrued creased, o'er
lauugd.
Chased, irc,,ed bulsed, rent, nated, rolled and
Ard lifted up some forty hundred feet
/ Above the level % the circltn- sea.
i check my j1iod horse upon the brink
/ Of an aby-- hundred fathom deep,
| Aud, in circumference, three leagues more,
| The compound oaldCrou 0f Ki-lau-c-a:
| The eouute5icit preseutmcut, a' my feet,
| In planetary ohJectiylty.
| OF the volcanic moon, above my head.
! lu instCllgr sheen and mysticism,
| Wa ever revelation unto man
| More wonderful A. II had, Iu fact.
| Ihr moon beneath microscopic lens
| Ardicvcry pockmark iu it, seeming facet
/ Enlarged into an i-lr-engu6us pit:
| The silver IN the heavens druss oa eartl,
| Black, broken nag ID. Jagged furHacc-sluE.
And again when gazing in Halemaumau We have
| the following:
| The surface Of the molten mas- scum,
| Like sable satin, ever settiu. from
| The centre, and, In crinkiiuE laps aud folds
| And crunchIH- volutes, breaking on the shore;
| Here, parting and revealing through rent
| The liquid fire beneath. In bands and seams
| OF intctbicndiuc pink aud chcrry-Ted;
| There, hcaving in elastic hiliOws, and,
! TIL parting In a sWayiuE arc au Oozc
| OF glowing lava, pink and orange hued
Appears; and like worm Of uuctuou. IRE
| Upon deep black velvet lgafet vriihcs
Until, with fading colors. &c expires;
Here parting on The shoresurfs criHkiiuE crest,
| 4 myriad OF Jet Of bui.h fame
/ Leap from the sharp up ftrd fracture like
! fringe OF blue upon a tuu raj pals
Their, cracking suddenly from shore to shore,
| The liquid Ere appears along the line
| Like luriu lightning 10 q midnight sky
The whole interest of the poem Is worked up tc
| a climax in a series Of brilliant fancy pictures
which for power and brilliancy will take ranB
| with some of the best descriptive writing in tn.
language. The 'flmy breath blown bubble of
the brain suggests the witches caldrOn in Mac.
beth, an imprisoned tiger, the Coliseum at Rome
where after the fierce strife Of "a thousand Goth
and Gallo warriors" who fight until the on
locker can see
The battlefield a -ra uf gore:
And hear dying moan hu.hed iu the cheer