The Commonplace 25 



even the sonnet, although highly artistic, is 

 free and strong enough to express the nature- 

 feeling of our time ; for this feeling seems to 

 be more and more impatient of historical forms. 

 The new nature poetry must be crystal clear, 

 for we have no time for riddles, even though 

 they are set in meter and rhyme. It must be 

 definite, and it must apply. 



The best nature poetry will be hopeful, joy- 

 ous, and modern. At least some of it will deal 

 with objects, phenomena, and emotions that are 

 common to common men, that it may become 

 a part of men's lives. Perhaps this more vital 

 song will relieve poetry writing of much that is 

 too theoretical and fine-spun ; and I hope that 

 it may also divert the current from the petty 

 lovelorn type of verse-making which exploits 

 personal love affairs that ought to be too private 

 and sacred, as they are also too small, for 

 publication. 



This poetry, whether its flight is smalt or 

 great, must be born of experience, and must be 

 intrinsic ; it must be the expression of a full 

 heart, not the sentiment of a looker-on. The 



