A NEW POET.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 604, 4 September 1909, Page 9

A NEW POET.

:■ ';':>i The .'Spectator" ...thus.;-; rey jews ; "Lyra -";';•' flvangelistica':;. Missionary jyerses of viV landi". by -,' ■. : • •;.'■>;-./-'A:'• century: ago,; when :older;'conventions .j.V- ',:•:ruled in, : 'poetry,X;thev~poat'.-;pf. a. new-land :Q'A] prided:^^ ; himßeir. ; bh;Jcbunting.:kin.;-with .the, ';.'; : ■; -./ wrqt'e 'pf : !,tbe;.<lesertor : i the prairie' ■. '* ■ ...with; a- : mem6ry , ; 'of '; the;' classic's ;'• Aurora .''and 'Y;,;' Hesperus^^• : and>:Pah ; i ;filJed;their parts;iri his r -',::•;verses;indirude':astthe savagery .might be, ■•;.'."-;'be';tried':t6, find -iniit'some 'hint /ofvArcaily. ;";':'";No doubt ith'ere .was; tinsel; in tho "fashion. In , ; i ';■ ->. \vC; ski?: the"; i)oetry' : of } strange ■• world[■.'; was -. apt; '.v.i'-,.;':^^to'.'bV\'oiify:^an ; .■!; Mr. ...Kipling /and'.'his : -'im,itatprsi,have: 'dis- :;: j,, ; ;carded -the':;antique,;manner,- 'jan'd ■'baye'; writ-; : o"-V-v;'ten'-.poetry,;with:';tiui':.'rougb' i (tangv;of ; /. tho; ,:£v;vwil(lenie3S:;in'^eVqry;;lihe ) ; jioetry:. which ;it ; : :;':■-'its best -'constitutes a. new ; hterary form, with ;'|;':'its;:Tqmance .sought, by. the:imethbds>of.'.un-' .:;';:■.■. compromising '■realisin.;,, .But., no - ri'r.tinnejnfisqlatioh^vAs'jt"''attains 'to; maturity ■':,: .Vj't ■casts/back : »jFbr-irelationship,';and it/is: very' ,:.;.-.;!significant--;that-iri. : ,,.the. best'-:of hisii'r'ecoht ; iv;>i^poetryi'SlrV-;Kiplings'has^s'triv6h ; to ; 'wed: old :""•••■-•vi: : aind Dew,:;to''graft> tbe..,classiqi graces'qn; a' :-/./..ihavo: a poet of a' ; wild land wbp7will"not cqn-' ' ;;'.; t .;Vsent;; for. 'one .imqment.vtpjforget'.thq', classic .i;';:;;;,traditio2.;..He has!-the'.' keenest/arid.iroshest : ■fti-i : P o^r^<'f : obseira"tionv'he*can; catch' a-'strange' j■'; ogatmosphere,^andffl/e': sensitive ,' lo'i''all r the .;■,: ;. of '• virgin-- soil:V.j'But: at 'heart■'ho ;' ;;sis;;a is; ;butohoj \. ;. ?,will ! .nave .nqne'j'pf ■>the';.cqminori:, missionary. :' ; f Yi viott; tlio (great;'.Gath'olio "tra-' .?Vidition-; :he.'sees:aroiind,-him.^he;high ritual ;*;. !;oi i thp;;media«yar Church;; fand (his;i task in :. :-";t'his.-eyes,has.:.all. the'":glamour;"'of ■a.l Crusade! ,-:; ■i'JMashpnaland is.tp'him-authentic Arcady, and ''■.■;':': with;a poet's eyfe' he."can- read;in. its savagery :;v.ythe'pld.;songs;;pf:;Bellas.^'Ho; i can:;best iU ;:r>:-lustrite;;the^pqiht.^by: ; Wfrom 'his ,i;.. &i "Shepherds: 'to appeal:■ "to' ,;.Vjqxford;;&bolars.;on':behalf-.'of;:the.Mash<jnas ..; j.'.yas. againstVcertain Interests"::--..';. .:■ : Y[-;"Ye of-iie dead -' ; \./^;;. : eo ; : : well^\:'::;vV%¥::.'"';■;■■;■;?.;■..; :■■•:.;•■. ■-.■.:-; ■ ; viTe. that, dream white) nights .'of "ybnfs" , -in deep .:■•,'. j.vk-; ? *';' ; ;;: ■•.""--.>:,"■.■.•. ; j ;:;Te that.;in>yopr'visionsrply; shepherd's ; crook : '.■■i;'-- : -.' : ''' : -y--and.-',reed—.'. : -.''-'-v!-!V;' , . ,-.';:.■:_ --■.-.;;■ v- ; .;.-.■■• ■:.••..-'•■-,.■ ■ ; .::'; : :^Strive;and-cry:for 'Arcady.Anier 'year of iieed! ; i-KaUy ,to ■ them in;%ir strait,'' pasture, tilth, ■-:-.■-..'/-.'■'.- andistall,—;;;.-,; v.,.v J ; ;. ; ■' ■■;-.,, be.shepherds:ajl.l- ■.:::' "sacred-namel ' ;: v-.What if; this grey riyer-chino hath npfladon's 'A^;.:;;;'";:"-farB'e"?:-*.l."- r v;i;v-: : . ;,.;■ ■■: , ..;. 'vand ;;":: i ;';f^■gftat-herds , Come,';: , :,;;:.»);?■:,;;'•;■ ,v"- v r '<:-;..- ;■' vv' In, the. still"/bright evenings ...hence wend our -.;.v-Ci/: ; : /cattle "home.-, g\ ,; ; v;;, : vv-i ;■ ■.;

.;.;,; Harsh ".'the. clash :of..lpcldng_horns! How-tHo ■ i:VA^;^'':;.red- bulK'sways!.:;K^v:;,--?-;;?. f ■•';:■.'.■:, .^ v , -'■ ; ~'::■> Chase the;thieving goats away.'from-tho tufted "':, '■<■ ■■/■.■:'■'■ ;: - :: '---i, ■-':■')•• '•■ :: --..' v-: •-■'-..■ '•-■ ■:." ' .^^^oniblack^bull.ehall'gltit^ feast that-shalf ' / >:. : '.y?r-:, --V: ; ;:--: : --;. '■;■'■,'■..;-.•..•■.•:-•.■'■ ;: goat i'make":glad Ms -ghost; his -that '■■' ■/y ; :'^':'.:'SPwett ; the.:grain.v'-i!.V;\ , ,'' ; -.::•-'■ j-;--;-- : ; . ; : -;ftThink;y«Vtiiat : onr; threshing-floors aro'df sone ■■:': ~ v -^:vl - 'r-;ti : ;-:.., j -: b /r',;'i-: Hark- that--musio -rwliere' clnbs : briiise -"the ilv;-:: !' l^. millet:'■orn— ■/■■'y-:'.C:,■■■*' '■ : '-- : ..-.:-i . :■:. ... .: till -tho green TpughVheap's-spill their-".:;:"^';;^-'-|rea -'i'.';;v.v-'--- i: -r-,' : -!-'' ; <■■ ■ ',■■ '■■■■■'. • ; vXist. a lilt of come' to .drive - the ''riv-.^-'cowl;-: , "-,-? ;- f .:;'"; : :''--: i '. : A:;,y > -''' ■',':[- [■■■; %; :',liiit; a Jilt :of :ono, ;! that's ; loth,- will' : not : marrv * ; ',v;,Sno\y!.;.;/:>/■■/;•:;. ; ;vKio-,,-:>-. v -.v..'.■. ",---vJ;- .■.;■.',! '. : .ivi/BoorisK though'the 'ye will , 'under-* ■ • ',•:.-,■} ■■sta'nd, , '.C:'. : .''-.v ■''■ ■•;''".;'-. ■■'•->-:.■"- -■■..■ ':-. ■ ■■ :^;.:.';;: ; Shadow^of:TheoerHus)'Ye-will i savoour,lana!y r - j .•-'By;the:'red ore that;-we forge;'dashing stone on : ■■■' ■'*'\- / : ::-.stoneV> ■? ■ ■'; ■(■"-. >-.:-.t:-o \,\-- .■_ : \ : :- .. ■ : :2 t ,>:■ Sj -the'thatched towns oii'UheihilWthat were ;"v.. . : fi.oßce'oraf- oyipy ::.■'"■■&■■■ ----v-j '■:■'."<'■:■ ■.",'•■- .-•:.•.<:..■ .-■ ■-•:: ,"'.:--vßy;pur.'furroiyed.'garden-ground;'' -by our: -'■■:■ TS.-lAplcd 'flocks.'"-'-'.^-'.'.■;■■,'.:■.'■<•'■. '■:': ... ■','":'■ ■■' .'■:■ ■: ~, ■'-. '■■': By the' graves ; our -cold 'folk-'fill■ under burnins '.-.; •3 , ;~r6cks>- ; ;■';.:.;■ iv--;r. : .j--:"'u- .-..; ■.;-.. -.--.. ". \..~; vVj. Rally'to them in their istrait,'-: pasture, tilth, and :-^ , . : ;;i v :.staflvo'' ; ,^,'-v; , '::yv:yv::i-':-:/ ~-/-: ■-;■;'•■'-■:•. ■'. ;-...:; -Bally to-our .succour; yo,, boshepherdsall!" is npt ■MriCripps'B finest worLbut ; ■;.•':• ..^^it;is;his > : ?-"■'.-'■';^'-V;■> s- '■■■■ :' ■:-.;.;v;■':. The- title:of 'this' : little- :.hook; looks.';at first .; ■-. vVes if it .had been, ohoserf inNthe same spirit as' .'; ;- i'Borrow's'."Bible:in-Spain." .."Lyra -..livange- -.-' -:'■■.•■ . Kstica":, suggests' a, collection; of. hymns 'after ■ ;/;;.the7patterh of :!'Sacred Songs : and Solos." But ... : y:the..name, i :espccially in its humility,.islchar- . ;■;■■/■■ >; aotenstic of. the. pbet.V-.'He is before all thin"s .;■■:: ■'a,- priest. ,-:In L his' 'sacred ■' ,-■ ;■...vorses therp is a iotoSvhich; :savo for' Francis ■ ■ .■':■: ;: Thompson;/ and. in. n lesser degree ■ Father :,' .■:\-y-TnbbA;iß.:;.ibsent/frdin , ;-Biiglish'--'poetry.' sirico .:■.'.■;';■":' Christinaillossotti—the nniriistakable note of : :''y and:-high-: ;:....::-: days of the: Church Avith a ; :richness of' devo- .;■■:. ;'•.:■ ,tion .which:'reflects: itself in; his. Elizabethan ■:■/,; -i yerse.'^Ho'; : nnds J altars in; ; whste' places, and ■'■■■-; ■ ... rofreshment in' thirsty lands) ■:-.-; Tho "slow : up-'-' ' : ■•■ ; ?hill. task:.of.,:tho.missionary-is iso glorified in ; :'• Vhis eyes'that iill romarico dwells in its'hiim- . .:; : vblest..'offices; ■ Butthis'-high;. absorption is ■; : V ! 'r;rioycr ;strained';or fantastic, ; -'forrih'.-.-'all'-..:'tho ■■'•' ■ ;!■■-■■ poom's' there is 'a 'discipline -both;of speech and ::. .:-Vform. "All exampley ie a - : ''.riptof rich images; but- nil aro controlled by : ; s.-Uand^subordinated;.tba Tine .simplicity con- '.* V-|?.'cojJtion. i: Mr. Cripps ■ is 5 skilful--in : . u : pregnant similes.. Take tins from "Good Fri- ';: ■ V,dSf.;it^a."Mission Altar": „.'..'. ;-.;•;. v -:■:-.•; ; . ■ ■':. '■:. ■.'.■!-; ;'iThpn';' ; saycst this sad <la.v: ; 'l thirst' again ■ ' '■• '■■'■:'■•'■-.""--And I, romemhering how, to easo Thy. pain •" .;,' Some': harsh-faced .Roman stained and seared '■-■ . war. .'•:- '.■''.•■.■'.'• ': ; -:" ■'-:".- •'-.. ; .. j':'- ■ ■ .:',;..-.Gaye'Theo. His vinegar; ; .: r-/...:, ..-. • . : ■:.-,;.•'(Aiid earned a fullor. comfort than 'he gave) • ;.' ; .VGp'fbrth'to seek-fpr.Thee at Thy.behest : ' . - -■'.-' ;• Not. only; such 'suave-souls, as .please me best, - ; '.:': But rough sour souls that Thou did'st parch to '•: : : v'' vVi I'isavei" : ''';; ''■'■','.':'■■/';i-. .-■' -'X: .'-.\ :■'■■;' ■> ■'■• '■■.•;':* ''■■--

the world is a road, and ho makes out of tho [discomforts of:travel a ritual of caso in such I poems as "Ad. Viam Viator," tho "Light- ( ning Song," and..---The Veld Fires' Vision." Ho has; somothing of tho.Franciscan tenderness towards tho eartli, as in tho beautiful I'Franciscan Prayer." Wo quote, as an oxamplo of his sacred poetry,-."For, Saint Cecily's Day," which, embodies his ' best qualities:—. _•"■.'"..':■-.■■ '."'.' :- "How far are viols and organs, and how anuto .Our shepherds and our song-birds j, Yet; my : : saint, ■•"■-■■ v , .-..' . Tour feast-day-lacks not here the shrill fine ■ ' flUte-. . . ■■-. -: .' ". ' - Of noon-tide cicale and tho full-horned plaint Of sunset-dove. What gold and silver:noiso Thrills with yon dipping sun, you moon's arch ■'■■ poise! : -.. .... •--... : : . . '-.■',.-"..■' '•"■ ' 0 blue November skies so tenso and clear, 1 seo you thrilling. -. :■ '-:..' ... -V Could I only .hear! But you aro far; in.vain mine cars must ache, -For 'tis but whispered music that, yo make— Sho is to you so near." . . . Tho Jast lines'of this little poem, must delight tho-hoart'of all-true-lovers of poetry... •Tho secular South African iioems arc few. Sometimes Mr.' Cripps writes a native-.ballad" liko "Lovo'Pagan," very simple in form, but full of fire and music;'• Sometimes ho reflects upon,a past journey and things seen with'a. 'gusto.'of'.enjoyment which has no literary affectation /in; it.-' But he i 3 best, porhaps, in his short pieces, cut like a jewel, for which the true model is the epigrams, of the. Greek Anthology. Here is one which rccallß these earlier models:— ... ■.'.-' .-;■ '..-;"-". :

)'> ■ .'■■■.•;■ -■-.','; "Found ; Starved. ;■.-;', .-'■.■'.'. -,-.. ; ' .. ' (In a Mashonaland'Garden.) ■ ... '■■'■ Diro Fate, availing not to bond him, broke! He bowed his neck to no. stop-father's, yoke -.•' : •. Submissively for-fill, of blows, or bread. . On Earth his niotEcr's lovo in love he leaned— A. suckling from her .furrowed . breasts : uni weaned, -~ •I' .. .'" This year her," dugs' ran dry—and he. is dead." Mr. Cripps is the foe of the mine-owner and the'protector of tlio old.inhabitants; but'ho ■ can recognise; the greatness of an opponent. No moro.adequate epitaph; on Cecil Rhodes has been.written than.this:— '/"■■''■" V "God be with j;on in your need!' ~ . , When God's mills have ground you through-r-All the .coarse cruel : chaft' of you— ' , '■" :■ < Bb there left one seed to sow; i' ,;', . ... Which ii' Season may unfold \ ':.-' ' , ■ . Ypur visionary might of. old—". ■'.-"■■'■ Like some fecund vine tO'sprawl , '.'. -; On the widths':of Sion's wall—., v : |..' .-■':.' 'In penitence : imperial!" - ■'■'{'■■'■'.'.; But it, is the', fate-p£;'exiles,- , ,: , .hqweyer;:deep their ..loyo. for ;.tho; lan'd ; of itheir" adoption, to tfrite best under .tho-weight'of homesickness.' .Tho verso'ion, '"Essex"- havo'an acho in them tfhichno.ireader'.can.feellunmovtd. They are too long to : quofco,';bufas an"instance of this •note,-which' ; -is'never-far'-distant froni.ivhat sfeems to us tho'. most .• remarkable book of poetry issued, of late, ,:,we';quoto the '.short piece,>"Encaniped fc'April." It will bo remembered that the. English ' spring is South Africa's;autumn:—/•;,;.:■ ; ; \ .;L : ' , '"Wrap your,eyes, lie, blind!- • .: -/Fear, the hums, and stings! : •.■'■' . ■~ . ■'."' : Yet fear, niore the thrush s bill '•. ,''' .; That in England sings', . ',: ;., : . '-."-: Tress, the torn hem to'your eyes; .... ■": .' On-your cold hill: bed! -.' .; : :. .. ; ..■•". : . ,■-.-./ lest theyi's'py some painted'mead— - ■; Gold and white and red. '-, -~:'.•■,■:"■:';. ',': All in'vain! With Sleep's grey fall—: ; ;: Birds flute, floors arise, ~ ■ '. J ' '■'/When you wako the. autumn, start. :'':'' .'•'■".'. ■ ::':'■ Shine on shivering.eyes." ~ . -.;.'