The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-09-01
MR.. BROWNING ASAPOET
SOME REFLEcTToNSo ON THE REPRE-
sExTlrfrE OFMYSTTC vERSE.
Comments Upon the Abstruse, Hslf-De
veIopcd Ideas rervading His works
lie Was Made, Not Born Poet.


of that poet among students Of the IN
mute, / could not help feeling that
would like TO advance just one or two
ideas that flashed through my mind
while reading for the second time some
selections from AIR. Browning's works.
This is my own individual opinion,
which WILL OF course. antagonize that OF
others. Devotion 10 Browning is come
10 he regarded as some evidence OF men
tai culture. Yet l believe many with
scarcely an idea OF what he meant
praise the mystic poet upon all occasions.
But TO grow a little more serious.
A htlratour OF Boston once wrote 10
Emerson making some inquiries about
the meaning OF one OF mis- poems, adding
that he could not form an intelligent
opinion OF the authors idea.
Il don't understand 1t myself" came
the poets reply; II would have httle
respect for your critical powers If you
really did understand it,"
Now, that was such candor as one
likes to see Mr.. Browning might nave
replied TO many OF his correspondents IN
the same strain without doing himself
stand himself. / am sure OF mat.
PervadinS many Of his poems Is
strain of mysticism. Of vague. uncertain,
far-re-lchelness that often even fans 10
produce mental effort on the part OF
the reader. You pcruse a verse without
an idea No impression is produced.
Soon you reach point where a ray
OF light creops in Then you go back to
the verse mechanically, read and try TO
...f.. 4.tr n
tinued mental strain without catching
the poets meaning discourages you, and
frequently YOU toss the book aside in
the midst OF poem, and turn to some
thing else for relief. Sometimes you de-
eide 10 drop Browning altogether There
is nothing satisfying in he greater part
of his works.
For that reason Browning is not a
popular poet. He Is growing less so
yearly People viii not read ETHEREAL
problems. II is bad enough to puzzle
over prose but poetry full OF cnigmas
VIII never find very many enthusiastic
disciples.
know some people Will peer over Ineir
spectacies With wise look and say this
is not true; that BrOwning's poetry is
simple enough 10 them. and none but the
unintiated pronounce il vague and alb
etruse. They Will try TO make you be
lieye they really enjoy the poets far
fetched SMILES and befosged references,
when they don't.
Even the average member Of a Brown
Ing club who really joins the Organiza-
ton for reasons promOtve Of social or
intellectual precedence finds herself en-
tangled i'm mental cobwcbs during a
reading and discussion Of one of the poets
choice works. Students OF archaeology
and eXcayatOrs OF antedelnyian fossihfer-
Gus curlos may revel In some Of Brown
:ns's figures. They afford broad fields
Tor speculation.
Plain. ordinary individuals who never
dug up Sanscrit roots or analysed Phoeni-
elan iiicmS prefer poetry that appeals to
the heart the soul. the fancy. touching a
sentiment and ar0using a sleeping i'm
pulse.
dc no. mean TO say that none of
Browning's poems appeal 10 the heart
quite number reach the inner being
and rolNudle a smothefed something
down deep I'm the quick. There are brief
passages too that now and then open
ones eyes 10 true knowledge of ones
self. But 90 hold that the greater part
Of the poets verses are read in purely
mechanical way. Some one may read
with YOU, ana point out the poets mean
inc from time to time. But visions of
diagrams. and practical explanations, to-
gcther with the consciousness OF sharing a
sentiment with another who assumes the |
cOif-biOoded role of a teacher cannot but
destroy the effect of an impulse produced
by an individual and spontaneous appre-
citation of = poets thought or picture.
There is such thing as imagery only
half developed in the mind of even the
Ar f.J .l,op 81.
certain Intellectual freaks, cannot find
n fruitful corner in the readers mind.
There should be music appealing TO an |
appreciation Of time. TO suppose that the |
raiment should be sacrificed for the
thought Is mistake. If so. why not
employ prose? The Imagination must
lie stimulated. Heavy crude metrical
structure with The corners knocked off,
clothing thought only half worked out
viii not 90 this. Pleasing imagery vivid !
pictures flashed one upon another iu
quick succession, will feed the aesthetic |
spark and arouse even the sense Of sight. |
Poetry IS the language of the imagina-
ton; prose, the language of reason. Ger
tainly IL requires an the reason, in
genuity and grinding mental drudgery |
an ordinary mortal can command 10
unite some Of the metrical knots Mr.. |
Browning has succeeded in tangiing
lie could have clothed many Of his Ideas |
in prose without suffering from the |
change His mirrors from which pie |
lures can be reflected upon a mind reach |
ing out in search of them are hazv |
though now and then ne descends 10 "A /
pretty little picturesque sketch. or sim |
pie. unpretcntious gem that sparklos with /
the genius OF a true poet. Then IL is |
that you feel friendly leaning towards |
the strange enemy Of didactic verse.
Browning was "a learned. trained poet
not poet by nature. Burns was a poet |
because he could not help II. Gems of |
verse dubbed from his heart spontaneous |
~ He could see poem In a daisy. a
dew-drop, butterily's wing Browning |
could. too, II he had time TO anaIyze |
them AMI study out the verses His
works We're the result OF hard mental |
EFFORT lie was a scholar. thinker. and |
seldom dropped down 10 the level of BOP |
ular poetry. His numerous references to
the neldS Of art, music mythology his
tory. and science stamp i'm as a diIigent |
student. keen observer. and a careful !
reader. About his style dramatic
favor suggests leaning towards the
pompous. Withal he is vigorous some
times concise. never contradictory. Ills
boidncss Of construction and fondness for
lengthy parenthcses frequently shatter In
the readers mind fast forming images
and not unfrequcntly snap trains OF
thought at critical points in their devel-
opment.
His dicdon is varied. well selected.
though occasionally bold Ills vocabulary |
would be n valuable acquisition TO any
writer nOWtfeyc lie itSaq MARKHAM. 4 -na |