The World's Work. Edited by Henry Norman, M.P. (W. Heinemann.
ls. net.)—The April number of the World's Work is full of interesting matter and of photographic illustrations of a very high order of merit. The most striking feature of the issue is, however, a poem by Mr. W. E. Henley entitled "A Song of Speed." Here for the first time the motor-car finds its " sacred bard." The poem, which is in the unrhymed dactylic rhythm which Mr. Henley has made his own, is full of a quick and eager enjoyment in the pageant of earth and sky, of the woods, waters, and wastes, and of the works of men and oxen that shoot past the flying car as it eats up the road and ,hurls the landscape to right and left from off its shining sides. It is a fascinating poem, and should be read as a whole, but we must give ourselves the pleasure of a short quotation. This is the scene through which the motor-car, exultant, runs its course
Visions of Summer, Somnolent, stately, Gravid and satisfied ; And Autumn, his hands Full of apples ; and Winter, The old Tyrant we love For the sake of his kinswoman, Spring with her violets, Spring with her lambs, Spring with her old, Irresistible mandate, The joyous, the reckless Compeller of Wombs, Spring ! And with these Smoke, Rain, and Mist In their subtle, fantastical Moodiness ; Gardens. And Woods in their pleasure, Their pride of increase, And their helpless and sorrowful Pomp of decay I " " Secular avenues.
Noble alignments Of Elms, since a century Hailing the Dawns And exalting the Sunsets ; Beech-woods that burn out The life in their leafage, And figure the death Of the Year in a glory Of colour and fire; Roads, where the stalwart Soldier of Caesar Put by his bread And his garlic, and, girding His conquering sword To his unconquered thigh, Lay down in his armour, And went to his Gods By the way that he'd made. MI this, and more than this : Brilliant, enchanting
Previous page
