186 BIRDS AND POETS 



groves and orchards, or of the gilded cage in my 

 lady's chamber. It is by some such analogy that 

 I would indicate the character of the poetry I am 

 about to discuss, compared with that of the more 

 popular and melodious singer, — the poetry of the 

 strong wing and the daring flight. 



Well and profoundly has a Danish critic said, in 

 "For He og Virkelighed" ("For the Idea and the 

 Reality "), a Copenhagen magazine : — 



"It may be candidly admitted that the American 

 poet has not the elegance, special melody, nor re- 

 cherche aroma of the accepted poets of Europe or 

 his own country; but his compass and general har- 

 mony are infinitely greater. The sweetness and 

 spice, the poetic ennui, the tender longings, the 

 exquisite art-finish of those choice poets are mainly 

 unseen and unmet in him, — perhaps because he can- 

 not achieve them, more likely because he disdains 

 them. But there is an electric living soul in his 

 poetry, far more fermenting and bracing. His 

 wings do not glitter in their movement from rich 

 and vari-colored plumage, nor are his notes those of 

 the accustomed song-birds ; but his flight is the flight 

 of the eagle." 



Yes, there is not only the delighting of the ear 

 with the outpouring of sweetest melody and its les- 

 sons, but there is the delighting of the eye and 

 soul through that soaring and circling in the vast 

 empyrean of "a strong bird on pinions free," — les- 

 sons of freedom, power, grace, and spiritual sugges- 

 tion, — vast, unparalleled, formless lessons. 



