THE LAST MUSTER.
The Last Muster, and other Poems. By John S. Arkwright. (Grant Richards. 3s. net.)—In this little book the war poems are very much the best, but all have a certain scholarly distinction. In these an echo of Mr. Kipling is heard, but the connection is probably the result of common models. The "Hymn for Use in Time of War," which, if we mistake not, was used in Christchurch Cathedral, is a model of what such a hymn should be, simple, rhythmical, and sonorous :— " Thine eyes behold the earth's remotest regions, Her great ones tremble at Thy dread decree ;
Their fleets are Thine, Thy hand is on their legions, in all the world there is no God save Thee. Except Thou guard the host when it is sleeping The strength of Kings shall turn to them again, Except Thou take the city in Thy keeping The watchman wakes in vain."
The same note is felt through all the war verses,—simplicity, and the eloquence of true feeling. In "The Last Muster" the author rises to a high level of poetry in the picture of the English dead over the earth waiting upon the last call We are specially struck by Mr. Arkwright's topical verses, because in this class, where false sentiment is almost inevitable, he has succeeded in being always simple, graceful, and effective. But some of the short lyrics show a melody and a fancy which we should like to have more of. Such are "Grata Vice Veris," "Dreaming of Fairyland," and the "Song for Music "; and the lines "To a Friend" show that Mr. Arkwright has a true understanding of the philosophy of his craft.
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