The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-04-30

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Some American Poetry.
For the King is a slender volume o
verse by Robert Cameron Rogers, who hal
published two or three like collections il
other years. There is a considerable diff.
| ference between the various poems il
contains, but the best are those of patriot
| ism and Western life. Some of them are
not exactly poetry, but only good musical
verse; but in most of them there are ideas
and there is certain sturdy strength il
the rhythm and metaphor which indicates
that the author may yet contribute a gen.
uine treasure 10 the literature of this
country.
Those who are interested in American
literature of the future should notice and
reflect upon the tendencies shown by the
verse writers of the last two or three
years. There has been but little real
poetry-half a dozen books at most, in
two seasons-but there has been some
good newspaper verse, and il is written
with strength and ruggedness which in
dictate that new school may be devel-
oped in The near future. modelled on 10
European standard, but taking its rhythm
from nature, or from the rough but stirring
measures OF the camp and the sea. The
irregular metre employed by Whitman and
Lanier is in favor with some of our verse
writers. and is used with great effect, es-
peciaily in poems of nature.
Two writers of very different talents,
Richard Hoyey and Evaleen Stein, have
employed ii in this way, and it is one of
the favorite devices of Riley. The Long
fellow form of verse savoring more or less
of the Jingle, or at its best, OF the Ger
man ballad, has practically disappeared,
and so has blank verse. The short poem,
ambodying single idea in exquisite Ian
guage, Will never go out of favor and now,
as always, wide latitude is allowed the
author in the choice of metre for this.
What may be called Initiative verse--echo-
ing the tramp of cavalry, the sound of the
sea, the note of a bugie-is becoming freer
and mere unfettered in form, and we are
getting rid of the Greek influence. CLASH
cal illusions are rare, and so are histori-
cal poems. We are coming down-or up
TO the present.
Mr.. Rogers book of poems, while Lot a
work of genius in itself, illustrates some
of the phases OF this coming school of lit
eraiure. He is in touch with the Zeitgeist,
and his best work is along the line which
cur great American poet, whoever he may
be, will be likely to take This author is
not a genius, but his talent is good talent
and worth much cultivation.
In "A Ballad of Dead Camp Fires" he
uses what may be called the banjo rhythm
the poem almost sings itself. and is a
true lyric. It would not make 1t less &C
ceptabIe If the author had refrained from
splitting up his lines in eccentric fash
ion. but after all, that is a matter of taste
rather than principle. little condensa-
ton also might have been beneficial. But
here is verse or two:
Here used to camp with squaws and dogs and
ponies,
Long before the coming of the paleface breed
Blackfeet hunters, Rannocks, and Shoshones,
Laying in their meat against
Winters need.
(Now, what is the use of putting FIVE
lines into that yerse0
Warm in their blankets, weaving savage fancies
Out Of the smoke that veered above the blaze,
Fortunate hunts, the foray and its chances.
New squaws and ponies and the
Head Chiefs praise.
Trsachery enters where the tepees spread,
New scalps dry in the Absaroka villages,
The lodge-p poles are broken and the
Fire Is dead.
sage-brush to kindle with,
Quaking ash TO glow,
Pine roots 10 last until the dawnwinds blow;
On, smoke full Of tancles
And dreams gone to smoke
At the camp fires dead long ago!
There are pictures in this as well as
music. 1.-THE Maverick is full Of the wild
spirit of the horse of the plains. THE
Steersman's Song" is true sea melody.
"a Song of the East-Wind" is full of po-
etc feeling. dozen or more Of the po-
ems in the book are healthy, vigorous,
wholesome to a refreshing degree, and the
others are not by any means feeble or
morbid. Some of the phrases lack polish,
and one gets the impression that the au-
thor would do well TO take himself and his
art little more seriously. But too much
Inconsistencies is a good fault in these
DAYS OF interpretive and se,f-centred lit
erature. The two poems, ITO Spain" and
ITO Great Britain" are well worth read
ing, and indicate that the author has ideas
on the subject of patriotism which ought
to be expressed. The title OF the book is
rather unfortunate but that is minor
matter. tNew York: G. p. Putnam's
Sons.)