NATURE AND THE POETS 



breast, and beneath his small hollow wings gives 

 forth the same low, mellow thunder from a rock as 

 from a log. Bryant has recognized this fact in one 

 of his poems. 



Our poets are quite apt to get ahead or behind 

 the season with their flowers and birds. It is not 

 often that we catch such a poet as Emerson napping. 

 He knows nature, and he knows the New England 

 fields and woods, as few poets do. One may study 

 our flora and fauna in his pages. He puts in the 

 moose and the " surly bear," and makes the latter 

 rhyme with "woodpecker:" 



"He saw beneath dim aisles, in odorous beds, 

 The slight Linnsea hang its twin-born heads. 



He heard, when in the grove, at intervals, 

 With sudden roar the aged pine-tree falls, 

 One crash, the death-hymn of the perfect tree, 

 Declares the close of its green century." 



"They led me through the thicket damp, 

 Through brake and fern, the beavers' camp." 



"He saw the partridge drum in the woods; 

 He heard the woodcock's evening hymn; 

 He found the tawny thrushes' broods; 

 And the shy hawk did wait for him." 



His "Titmouse" is studied in our winter woods, 



and bis " Humble-Bee " in our summer fields. He 



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