Beview of Ecviews, 113113. 



LEADING ARTICLES. 



65 



POETRY IN THE REVIEWS. 



JAPANESE POETRY. 



The December number of the Japan 

 Magazine is remarkable for the many 

 exquisite examples of poetry which it 

 contains. The gift of writing good 

 verse does not appear to be an accom- 

 plishment confined to any one class ui 

 Japan. It is the possession of both high 

 and low. Here is a beautiful lyric 

 written b\' the Empress Dowager :-- 



Flowers have their smiling time 

 And then their time of wilding; 



Girls should keep their smiling time. 

 And never reach their wilding. 



Her Majesty is also the authoress of the 

 following ode to Humility. Of it Dr. 

 |. Ingram Bryan says : " Seldom in the 

 whole range of literature does one find 

 a more perfect gem of poetic im- 

 agery":— 



The lowliest stream 'mid mountain vales 



Reflects the highest summit, 

 Yet wanders down still lowlier dales. 



Unspoiled by pride consummate; 

 The true man's mind should ever be 



Thus clothed with Humility. 



The death ode of General Count Ncgi 

 is reproduced : — ■ 



Thou vri no more, O sovereign Ijord, 



Thoi- hast ascended high ; 

 Enthroned for ever, and adored 



By all below the sky. 



To follow Thee, my august TyOrd, 

 Long loved and worshipped here, 



I now set forth Thy realm toward. 

 Beyond this mundane sphere. 



a blind dream; 



THE SWORD OF ENGLAND. 



BY ALFRED NOYES. 



The following verses, from the Lon- 

 don Mail are characteristically high in 

 thought and vigorous in expression. 

 The second and third stanzas are splen- 

 didly conceived : — 



Not as one muttering in .a, spellbound sleep 



Shall England speak the word; 

 Not idly bid the embattled lightnings leap. 



Nor lightly draw the sword! 



Let statesmen grope by night 



The (-old clear morning star 

 Should like a trophy in her helmet gleam 



When England sweeps to war! - 



Not like a derelict, drunk with surf and spray. 



And drifting down to doom; 

 But like the Sun-god calling up the day 



Should England rend that gloom. 



Not as in trance, at same hypnotic call, 



Nor with a doubtful cry; 

 But a clear faith, like a banner above us all. 



Rolling from sky to sky. 



She sheds no blood to that vain god of strife 



Whom striplings call " renown " ; 

 She kno'ws th.at only they who reverence life 



Oan nobly lay it down. 



And these will ride from child and home and love. 

 Through death and hell that day; 



But oh, her faith, her flag, must burn above. 

 Her soul must lead the way! 



W. H. Davies, known as the Tramp 

 Poet, contributes some remarkable lines 

 to the London Spectator. His technic 

 is perhaps sometimes at fault, but his 

 work has always a wonderful lyric 

 quality. The following verses are full 

 of Elizabethan quaintness : — 



A GREETING. 



BY W. H. DAVIES. 



Good morning. Life — and all 

 Things glad and beautiful, 

 II y pockets nothing hold. 

 But he that owns the gold. 

 The Sun, is my great friend— 

 His spending has no end. 



Hail to the morning sky. 

 Which bright cl<mds measure high; 

 Hail to you birds whose throats 

 Would number leaves by notes; 

 ■ Hail to you shady bowers. 

 And you green fields of flowers. 



Ilail to you woman fair. 

 Tluix make a show so rare 

 In cloth aa white as milk — 

 Be it calico or silk : 

 Good morning. Life — and all 

 Things glad and l)eautiful. 



Wilfrid Thorle)- gives picturesque ex- 

 pression to a c(Miimon mood in these 



