Selections from American poetry Part 52

OLD IRONSIDES

The frigate Const.i.tution was popularly known as "Old Ironsides" and this poem was written when the naval authorities proposed to break it up as unfit for service.

THE LAST LEAF

Holmes says this poem was suggested by the appearance in Boston of an old man said to be a Revolutionary soldier.

THE CHAMBERED NAUTILUS

14. irised: having colors like those in a rainbow.

14. crypt: secret recess.

CONTENTMENT

3. In 1857-1858, when this poem was written, the ideal of elegance in eastern cities of America was a "brown stone front" house. The possession of such a mansion indicated large wealth. In the light of this fact the humor of the verse is evident. The same principle is used throughout.

22. The position of Minister Plenipotentiary to the court of St. James-- England--was considered the highest diplomatic position in the disposal of the United States. How would such a position compare with filling the governor's chair of any state?

35. marrowy: rich.

48. The paintings of Raphael and t.i.tian are beyond purchase price now.

Most of them belong to the great galleries of Europe. Turner is a modern painter whose work is greatly admired and held almost above price.

64. vellum: fine parchment made of the skin of calves and used for ma.n.u.scripts. It turns cream-color with age.

59. Stradivarius: a violin made by Antonio Stradivari, who lived (1644- 1737) in Cremona, Italy. These instruments created a standard so that they are now the most highly prized violins in existence.

64. buhl: bra.s.s, white metal, or tortoise sh.e.l.l inlaid in patterns is the wood of furniture. So named from the French woodworker who perfected it.

THE DEACON'S MASTERPIECE

10. Georgius Secundus: King George II of England. He was the son of George I, who was elector of Hanover, as well as king of England.

20, felloe: a part of the rim of a wooden wheel in which the spokes are inserted.

92. encore: we can say the same thing about their strength.

THOMAS BUCHANAN READ (1822-1872)

Born in Pennsylvania, he was early apprenticed to a tailor. He drifted until at last he made his way to Italy, where he studied and painted for several years. Later he made Rome his permanent residence, and died there. He was known as a clever artist and sculptor, but his best work is the two poem; here quoted.

The poems by Read are used by special permission of J. B. Lippincott Company, the authorized publishers of the poems.

STORM ON ST. BERNARD

Storm on St. Bernard may be compared with Excelsior in general subject matter. Do they affect you in the same way? Are they alike in purpose?

Which seems most real to you? Why is "Excelsior" the more familiar?

DRIFTING

Read was essentially an artist, and in this poem he expressed his artistic soul more truly than in anything else he ever did.

19. Ischia: an island in the bay of Naples.

22. Capri: an island in the Mediterranean, best known for the Blue Grotto.

WALT WHITMAN (1819-1891)

"Walt Whitman...the chanter of adhesiveness, of the love of man for man, may not be attractive to some of us... But Walt Whitman the tender nurse, the cheerer of hospitals, the saver of soldier lives, is much more than attractive he is inspiring."

--W. P. TRENT.

Born on Long Island, he entered a printer's office when he was thirteen.

By the time he was twenty, he was editing his own paper, but he soon gave it up for work on a New York newspaper. When he was thirty, he traveled through the west; in "Pioneers" we have a part of the result. During

the Civil War he gave himself up to nursing as long as his strength lasted. From 1873 to the time of his death he was a great invalid and poor, but every trial was n.o.bly borne.

The selections from Walt Whitman are included by special permission of Mitch.e.l.l Kennerley, the publisher of the complete authorized editions of Walt Whitman's Works.

PIONEERS! O PIONEERS

18. debouch: go out into.

O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!

Written to express the grief of the nation over the death of Abraham Lincoln at the time when the joy over the saving of the union was most intense.