Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-09-11
ATTUNES HIS LYRE.
BILL NYE'S LINES ON THE DEATH
OF A MARRIED MAN.

VI - "FNNIhIG "fNN.
Written on the Theory OF Conveying an
Iio-Specimens of Fine Word Paint
ing by the Bard.
have been waiting patiently for the COM
ing poet TO take up and treat theme which
has for wears been knocking ON the door OF
the slumbcr.nS bard, and asking for admission
and recognition. The slumhcring bard has
ignored that call He has ,lumbered ON. He
has turned over and put pillow in each ear,
as it were, in order Ia avoid the loud, rlamor-
Gus appeal of this theme. He has shown
that he would rather continue 10 hC the sum-
beriug bard at his present salary thaH the
coming poet n; better pav.
SO have been compelled to attune my own
Tyre, and, III halting numbers handle it my
self Ii is out of my line to write poetry, but
those who think cannot write poem that
will lie ravcnuuSly snapped up and published
by the American press do not thoroughly
understand my true nature
ANY of us may b. able to write poetry, no
doubt; but will it be publiSheii That is
the test. VIII it, | ask, or will it not be pub
lishedf
To write true poetry. therefore, we mu t
not do 81 solely 10 CRAFTY ourselves. We
should remember that the publisher the edi-
tor and the public have feelings, also My
theory has always been and still is that poetry
should bc 81 written that il will convey an
idea and still not inhamc the public Infam-
matory poetry is unworthy and transitory in
its results. do not know that am making
myself perfectly clear, but let those who read
these lines attempt to write lucidly and
lcarnedly on u subject of which they are en-
tircly ignorant and they will see at once how
| am hampered.
Bit to continue the thought | say that
poetry should, in my judgement. awaken n
thrub in every heart. Is it not pleasing ~rn-
Sation for the true poet TO know that hp holds
in his hand the consolidated throbbers of 10
O00HH people, exclusive of Indians, not taxed
and therefore exempt
believe 10.
1t is therefore Il great boon to me tp realize
on this pleasant morning that mighty mul-
ttude weep together with me over the follow
ing poem, which is founded on fact There
are tears i'll it l know would spare tn"
reader thcsN tears if | could. but | cannot
have run tie poem through the wringer three
or four times, but it i still damp.
VIII the reader forgive me and loan me his
lachrymal glands for few moments'
The poem itself is based upon the sudden
drowning of a married man. who had been for
Years connected with the eel business By his
death his widowed wife was left with no huS-
band. The poem seeks to disclose her woe
and still reveal to the thinking mind how she
mu22led her great grief and battled on through
life.
In the third and fourth stanzas | aim to do
some fine word painting, and present to the
careful student delicate little picture of the
humid and yet hungry, moaning sra.
Later on may write some more sad poems,
and finally print them III a small, dark blue
volume that will bc within the reach Of all
Writing pnctry with me is not irkSome. II
is not hard work. 1t does not strain my mind
In fact can write poetry readily while using
my mind for other purposes 1t is not AZ
quired in my case. 1t is gift. Ever since
got jerked around in a cyclone two years ago
and stepped on peal of thunder and broke
my leg and cuncuSSed my brain, could writ,
poetry like this:
4 BRAVE HEART.
BEING LINES on THE DEATH OF MARRIED MAN
FELLUw ST-FFEREI.
Out whprt the blue waves come and 20,
out where the zrphyrs kiss the strand.
Down whcrt. the damp tI,i,'S rhb and fnw.
down when. the ocean monkeys with the sand,
William, the hungry. r7lSt.s for lis rnraI,
Slim William, the eeliSt, gathers the eel
Il
Up whera the Johnny Jump Ups smile,
Up WHERE the green hills meet the sky,
Wher., out from her window for many a mile,
She watches Iue blue and diUpling lie,
Tl'. wife Of the crist. with Nisa-e grim.
sits IN the cleaning and watches for him.
Down in the moist and moaning sea.
Down wiirrr the day never come.
With stnTIus, eyes that can never s4.t.
And lbs that will tier continue dumb
With eels in hiS hrraSt, in n large Wet wave,
William Is filling watery grave.
p whrr- the catnip is breathing hard.
Up whcr' the tanzy is riackrl with dew,
Eh,rr In" Nrsp'r soft a. he onion I-.els
Wal.ruS tine echoes Tn. twilight through,
The made widow still watches the shore
Md sits lii, re and waits. as | said before.
rhcy come and tell her the pititul tale,
With trembling voice and tear-limmed eye,
rhey watch h'r check grow slightly pale,
Yet wonder At the calm reply:
An CIR tears are but lille gentlemen
80 bring in the eels ami set him again"
Bill N.Y. in Boston Globe
Figures in Mime. Tussand's Museum.