Birds And Poets, With Other Papers

PREFACE. I HATE deliberated a long time about coupling gome of my sketches of out-door nature with a few chapters of a more purely literary character and as I have confided to my reader what pleased and en gaged me beyond my four walls, to show him what absorbs and delights me inside those walls especially as I have aimed to bring my out-door spirit and method within and still look upon my subject with the best naturalists eye I could command. I hope, therefore, he will not be scared away when I boldly confront him in the latter portions of my book with this name of strange portent, Walt Whit man, for I assure him that in this misjudged man he may press the strongest poetic pulse that has yet beat in America, or perhaps in modern times. Then these chapters are a proper supplement or continuation ofmy themes, and their analogy in liter ature, because in them we shall follow out these lessons of the earth and air, and behold their appli cation to higher matters. It is not an artificially graded path strewn with IT PREFACE. roses that invites us in this part, but let me hope something better, a rugged trail through the woods or along the beach where we shall now and then get a whiffof natural air, or a glimpse of something to EBOPUS-ON-HUDSOM. March, 1877. Make the wild blood start In its mystic springs. CONTENTS. BIRDS AND POETS . . . t TOUCHES OF NATUBB A. BIRD MEDLEY 85 APRIL 109 SPRING POEMS .........125 OUR RURAL DIVINITY BEFORE GENIUS BEFORE BEAUTY ........ 173 EMERSON THE FLIGHT OF THB EAGLM S13 51 135 161 185 BIRDS AND POETS,