The Washington herald., 1907-10-20
..The Crickets song"

merly an examiner of the Pension Bu-
reau. is member OF the American
Folklore Society. the American An
thropological Society. and the organ
izer OF the Ethical Club, of this city
Mr.. Warmers verse has been written
in the few moments of leisure of a
busy life and much OF that contained
in the pretty little volume has been
gathered from the Century. Scribaers s.
and other magazines where II first saw
the light
Some OF the poems in this book, as.
for instance. star Born" and The
Flight of the Red Horse" are an out
growth of Mr.. Warmers interest in the
folklore of the Sioux. interest which
was heightened by his marriage to
Anna j. Riggs. a daughter of the Rev.
). r. R. Riggs, a pioneer missionary to
the Sioux. But these poems 90 not at
all fiX the status Of this volume Of
poetry. Not only is much Of this in
tensely musical verse, carefully made,
well modulated, but behind it there is
hne philosophy and a tender faith,
Take, for instance, The Cricket's
Song" which lends its title to the
book Listen to the last verse:
Amid the worlds fulI-throated singers long
! raised my oaten reed, content TO be
Uuheard ] might voice the melody.
The little melody / inly hear
Thrice happy if az last some waiting ear,
Attcmpered with a kindly sympathy
Should hear. rejoicing at my slender song
His song 10 A Bird in the Bush"
besides handling a difficult form Of meter
with great skill. is notable, too, FOR
the strength OF its fancy. The birds
song brings a message of hope there
and when the song is over the bird takes
flight.
Well. then, 60 If y1u must. since the leaves OF
the maple are Burning.
May you find pleasure and health. but do not
tauy too long
With the first buds Of the springtime back TO my
window returning
Wakeu me early some morning from dreaming
again with your song.
The note of beautiful pathos Mr.
Warner can strike with an unerring
hand, and IL is difficult 10 be pathetic
sometimes without hint Of mawkish-
ness. The song "UnretuTning' is
lament after lost youth. 1t is always
so hard Tor as TO realize that youth
has indeed fed but out of even this
situation the poet here finds ground for
hope. Thus he cries.
Yes. she is gone; but I will follow on.
Follow and find her WhIther she Is gone
Through all tie weary ways Of life, in every cline,
5T land and sea and mountain height sublime.
Dc7eEi and island AID the empty air.
ITO every star in an the hollow SKY.
To the high gates Of heaven and cleaning wall
VIII follow, calling, listening everywhere,
VIII make my voice SD strong and clear 20 reach
Beyond all wastes. across all gIlfs 9f time;
VIII follow, weeping. listening as I call
Through all the sad YicissitUdFs ~ speech
Through all its stops in every minor key
Through all the cadencss Of loss and pain,
10 WOO her, WIN her. draw her cuce again.
% Youth, Youth. Youth. Come back, come back
10 me-
In something Of the same spirit that
hc treats lost youth he treats lost love
in the beautiful poem Lost" a poem
that brings the message that weeping
and wailing is Of no avail:
Heart, thou art stricken and ailing.
Watching and waiting for morn
While the night Is 81 wtarily waning:
But Useless is Thy complaining,
Thy souow is UuaVailmg
To cali back the UureturniuC
And foolish thy fond endeayor
To fan again into burning
The cold and desCatc ashes
To kindly again into flashes
fire that has vanished forever.
And the last poem in the volume con-
tains, perhaps, the most wonderful
thought Of aII-the thought that we
who sprang from earth shall return
10 its bosom again. not in sorrow of
fright or bitterness, but i'm sheer CRATE
fulness Of heart and spirit shall Law
ourselves down among the cool grasses
and the protecting trees.
Thus let me lie. while DER ME 20
The easteIing shadows wheeling slow.
The moon Un-climbng. still and white,
Her dreamy spell viii o er me throw,
And IN the awful depths a star
VII gaze upon me from aiar
Thus. musing the wistful skies.
That brood above me tenderly.
sleep. sleep! seal up MY eyes.
o deeper stiffness. steal from me
Ny pulses. softly as son may:
As through shut lids the yellow light
Grows nay and dim, 81 let the fires
Burn low and low aud die away.
III. watching one should scarcely say
When the lazt hicsaTing tongue expires.
And sleep has yielded room % thee.
Thus. thus. o mother Of us all.
From whom we are IN whom we crase
Receive again the life vou gave
And heTc. where braided shadows fall
Let the Returned hud a grave
And IN thy breast eternal peace.
Indeed. there IS much in this LITTLE
volume Of poetry TO justify its being
Il has G message of good hone of
abundant cheer. Technically the verses
are Tar above the Terfectness of tho
usual minor poet. and they show tbe
true feeling for poetry. the art and the
emotion combined The volume is "a
handsome one; its cover design is by the
poets son, philadelphia. J. r Lin
pincOtt Company