John Marr and Other Poems

The Project Gutenberg EBook of John Marr and Other Poems, by Herman MelvilleThis eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it,give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online atwww.gutenberg.netTitle: John Marr and Other PoemsAuthor: Herman MelvilleRelease Date: July 7, 2004 [EBook #12841]Language: English*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JOHN MARR AND OTHER POEMS ***Produced by Geoff PalmerJOHN MARR AND OTHER POEMSByHERMAN MELVILLEWith An Introductory Note By HENRY CHAPINMCMXXIIIntroductory NoteMelville's verse printed for the most part privately in small editions from middle life onward after his great prose work hadbeen written, taken as a whole, is of an amateurish and uneven quality. In it, however, that loveable freshness ofpersonality, which his philosophical dejection never quenched, is everywhere in evidence. It is clear that he did not sethimself to master the poet's art, yet through the mask of conventional verse which often falls into doggerel, the voice of atrue poet is heard. In selecting the pieces for this volume I have put in the vigorous sea verses of John Marr in theirentirety and added those others from his Battle Pieces, Timoleon, etc., that best indicate the quality of their author'spersonality. The prose supplement to battle pieces has been included because it does so much to explain the ...