Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-01-29
The Poems Of Robert Burns wiiseD.

The rising OF poet is an event OF
sufficient importance to demand both
space and time, and poet has arts u. If
any one doubts the truth of this let him
give five minutes to the perusal OF the
little volume entitled Life and Love-"
Poems by Pobert Burns Wilson, just
published by Cassell & Co.
The young artist poet is native OF
Pennsylvania, but his earliest recollec-
ton, according to MIR. Charles W. Cole
mans recent notice in Harpcr's NcW
lOnfbLy Magazine, is of an orchard in
full bloom in old Virginia, and he traces
back TO the Virginia Nelson's, whilst he
makes his home in Kentucky. He was
accordingly selected by the Barpers last
year as southern poet to appear in the
sketch on the recent literary movement
in the South.
One cannot read his poems collected in
this little volume without being sensible
of how deeply those apple-blossoms
must have entered into his soul. Their
fragrance seems to be distilled in his
verses. II must have been prophetic
instinct which gave the young poet the
name associated the world over with the
beauty of nature.
Hear this from constance -:
THE orchards sea shell blooming swept away.
And reused us Ike a st0rm-torn shredded neece
OF piuk and white entanged on the trees
The scented summer snOwnakes allied the breeze
And fell sun-dappled on the Swallowed grass"
Here is another reference:
"The orchard. robed in white, shall seem fun
soon
Auorning cloud close anchored on the lswu-
For now the pallid, waning April moon
Turns faint upon the bosom OF the dawn"
The beauty of the South has informed
his spirit, and he has sung of nature in her
choicest moods with a melody Worthy his
theme, striking in her praise the boldest
note heard this many year. The voice
of spring and the summer rain have
drawn him into such close communion
that he seems to have caught the secret
of their being. But if he has sung OF
April aud of June. he has also hymned
the violence OF March and of November.
The gentlest moods of summer aud the
fiercest moods OF winter tind alike
power in his verse to give themselves ut
terance.
Here is a verse taken at random from
"JuEe Days:
"The sometime fields that SAD and sodden lay
soaked In the first cold rains, or recked with
snow,
With helpless grasses troddsn In the clay
BY shiveriDg herds that wandered 20 and fro,
Wave now With grain. and happy birds all cay
Pipe, hidden IN the slopes with flowers aolow."
Does any one know a stronger picture
than this taken from the exquisite poem,
"a Wild Violet in November ?"
.Far down the fading valley bursts the boom
OF distant echoes, aud the darkness reels.
Where sghtlcss charioto. laundering through the
Bear down the tree-top with their cracking
wheels"
II is in my humble judgment the best
"first volume" published for many
q year. From the opening poem, Glove
aud Life" to that which ends the book,
there is scarcely page which does not
bespeak the true poet. He adds to the
mastership OF rythm an insight into ma
ture anda beauty OF expression not found
together in these prosaic days. Possibly
"When Evening Cometh On P" is on the
whole the best poem in the volume. 1t
is the finest pastoral written on this side
of the Atlantic. l will not mar the
poem by giving less than oil OF ID, but |
recommend to oil who love true poetry
that they get the volume and satisfy
themselves that poet has arisen.
y ksa 2 y 7. p.