New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-07-04
MR. FAUCEIT7S POEMS.
THE PROGRESS OF A NEW SINGER


NIB. IA WCE1TS POEMS.
THE PROGRESS OF A NEW SINGER
ROMANCE AND REvERY. Poems BY EDGAR FAw-
cBIT. 12mo. Pr. 200 Ticknor ~ 90.
The very handsome volume in which Mr.. Fawcett
presents new collection of will be received
with favor by readers Of two different classes by
those who have a relish for the minor form OF
poetical composition. and by the curipns stncents
of American literature who are listening critically
and hopefully to all the new singers Neither VIII
be anite satisfied with the book. although both VIII
have reason to be pleased with 1t. Mr. fawcetts
imagination seems to be gaining strength ana ooid-
ness his fancy to be taking wider ana wi'er
range and his sentiment to be growing IN clear
ness and masculine nerve Often bis Thought 10
striklngly poetic. For example, in Sister Brenda"
@Rrth" Habit" "Concealmcnt," lr"n'."
"Stll WatcI" Defeat" Master and Slave" the
idea is strong and the expression. though in some
cages faulty is at least quick exact and effective
In all these and in several other pieces. feel the
sure bnt indescTibabe poetic spirit "The Magic
Flower an extended tale in six-line pentameter
staazas which recall the melody and cadence OF
Keats. is successful essay in the narrative STYLE
with many sensuous charms Of description and
pervading tone of langnorous romance. In the
blank verse of "'rhe Sorceress" Mr. Fawcett rises
to higher air. and reaches the passionate climax
In a strain Of Intensity to which he has not often
attained. This is the most vigorous poem in the
volume "Nightp Is n fight OF fine ethereal
fancy; and it would he easy to cite single stanzas
ald short passages from many of the poems when
glow with distinction. For example. Two
Women" as whole has not much value. but 1t
contains these excellent lines
In her deep look su CHI endure
Such molly splrndOr livhts her face
You know her soul So Whitley pure
That sometimes. where she moves In grace,
The rustlng OF her garment brings
Delicious dreams OF nuttored wings
"Some CITY DAYS" embodes so beautiful plct-
ure OF those seasons precious to every dwelier
in crowded streets,
When summers genial sorceries flow
tho city's turDid heart,
-davs which greet the infrequent captive trees "
with compassion.
And bid some faded flower surmiso
A nurmur though OF phantom bees
"A picture so beautiful that the title reflections
suggested 3y it to the pet seem unaccountably
prosaic by contrast.
The fact is that Mr. FawcetPs art is not yet COM
mensurate with his poetical feeling He has neither
the artistic Judgment TO distinguish his choice
ideas from those echoes of common talk which I'll
the place of thought in ordinary heads, nor the
artistic felicity in the management OF words winch
is as essential to the work OF poet as the kn0wl-
ed 70 Of drawing and color to that of painter.
There is a good deal OF verse; in the volume which
is both meagre and crude-for instance. lmpertec-
ton" Christ "1he Misanthrope. "Ilalluclna-
ton" "Ambition." and some of the sonnets.
War" and Poverty are not poetry, but rhetoric
OF class which it is not easy to distinguish from
cant. The tone in all these pieces is below Mr..
Faweett true pitch. Tolerance opens with these
lion, c.ir, corte
He ~ not great whose word,
BY fiery indignation stirred.
Would iuige all evil hearts that 1.-Two
Win NJ ieloullIg palliative.
Nor he thar by 100 neat IT skill
NOn!d axionats the human will,
And bit feitered minds declare
Responsibility a snare
Nor he that seems for those who list
An ICY mtelectullist;
Crampng moraitys wide span
IN bounds utllit~riGn.
Instances of the misuse Of epithe:s and the
awkward and forced introduction of unfit words
might be taken from the best Of the poems. Nr.
Fawcett has always done violence to his adverbs.
Bloom tanglingly the red-llowered weeds Of sin
is both unuiuScal and incorrect; weeds may grow
IN a tangle. but tangngy" cannot denote their
manner of blooming Reachlcssy aloof from
them" is n daring substitution for cont of
reach" which poetry cannot Justify.
"Weathful 1avors" is an invention with lao
better excuse tnan caprice III one hno Hi'
Fawcett cinches" his teeth, which is certainly au
extraordinary operation; in another he vows e
splre of insubstantial stone; We can understand
an insubstantial spire. but lot of stone. worm
pines once more to Toll and crawl IN quietudes Of
earthly nj .ht," and the poet watches Its " clammy
GOODNESS wrthe." worm cannot loll. neither
can coldncss writhe Bnt the most unfortunate
misuse of word is the employment for the sake of
rhynel of girth" in the following line from the
sonnet on A Dead Friend:
Like some famed knight, admired for Drawn and
grth."
OF course the famed knight who comes at once to
mind il tastaif. How coulu Mr.. Fawcett miss t he
obvious suggestion
If Mr.. Fawcett were az ordinary verse maker IL
would not be worth while 10 pay 80 much attention
to the defects uf his manner. IL is because there IS
good substance IN his work that we are anxious
Tor him to remove these bemishes, and To remril-
Der tilt poetry Is not mere Spontaneous song, but
an art which mnst 10 cultivated with painful aud
incessan. labor.