The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-01-12
NEW PUBLICATIONS
BY e. cAvAzzA.

Song of the Psalm, and Other Poems. By
Tracy Robinson. Two distinct literary quail
tiles are found side by side in the verse of
Mr.. Tracy Robinson one of these the native
note of his country home in the State of New
York, the other tropical tone acquired dur
ing his residence in Aspinwall where he has
held the office of United States consul. The
late Bayard Taylor is said to have been
much pleased with the Song of the Palm.
which indeed. is very much in the vein of
his own rhetoric. Mr.. Robinson's work is
uneven. presenting points for favorable and
for adverse criticism. He possesses in more
than common measure that sympathy with
every form of life, be it of man, beast, or
tree. which is a mark of the genuine poetic
nature. This quality in its unrestrained ex-
ercise, often leads him into the correspond
ing fault Of oyer-personifcation, involving
him In mixed metaphorical relations, one il
lustration treading upon the heels of another.
For instance on page 9, the dying wind kisses
THE tropic night fond adieu, the starry
C her warm bosom lying" Here is a
dramatic figure of the Night, her dusky, sad
beauty decked with jewels. Next. the cres-
cent moon descends the west and
draws ''o'er her face the curtain
of the sea-" That crescent should
have been left for an ornament in the hair of
the Night--if any more metaphors were, in
the poets opinion needed in this connection
Instead, we have an entirely new figure, and
one which. by comparison with the already
personifed Night, dwindles to the size Of
small doll. This example may stand for all
criticism of this tendency of Mr.. Robinson's
verse. His talent is worth refining to its
best expression; and TO do this he simply
needs to analyze his impressions, separate
them one from another, fix his mental vision
upon each until 1t becomes clear picture to
him and then, having fitted these ideas with
precise and condensed expression, take care
that they do NOT conflict or misbecome leach
other. Another minor error-which would
be corrected by the same process-is the en-
ployment of adjectives which do.not describe.
OF these epithets, one greatly abused, by
many writers beside Mr.. Robinson, is the
word grand. Employed accurately, it is
noble werd; but few adjectives are more use
lessly overworked by uncritical writer's. In
the Song Of the Palm occur some swift lyric
passages, which augur we'll for Mr.. Robin
sons future place-to be won by careful cul-
tiyation of his voice-in the American choir.
Among the most noteworthy poems may be
mentioned Ny Friend, written In manly
major key; Equatorial, at the border line of
red-pepper rhetoric, but Interesting for its
swift semi-savage melody; Doubt, noble
and exalted poem. His sonnets are good.
Ia the biographical poem, My Boyhood
ome,are found excellent and sincere verses,
such as the tribute to his pioneer father Qn-
terrupted by confused aDostrophe to Fair
Inspiration). the admirable sketch of the cat
tie in the rain; and the emphatic and sincere
expression of the stanza beginning: IF God
the power had given unto me.' The fact
that this poem is intended as a review in
verse of the authors life, addressed TO his
wife as tribute of affection, excuses certain
lapses into detail less than poetic, such as
the feryent and, doubtless, deserved eulogy
of his mothers root-beer. The Fourth of
July Grafton, delivered at Aspinwall, is pa
triotic but ford, and is not appropriately
placed in volume of verse. Mr. Robinson's
book in the absence of its author, has had
the advantage of the editorship of Mr.. Ar
thur Stedman. one of the most reliable and
efficient among the younger men of sAmeri-
can literature. New York: Brentano.
Portland: Mcclellan, Mosher & Co.