In one hundred and twenty-one numbers of these seven magazines I find there were published during 1913 a total of 506 poems. The total number of poems printed in each magazine, and the number of the distinctive poems are: Century, total 58, 30 of distinction; Harper’s, total 57, 29 of distinction; Scribner’s, total 45, 30 of distinction; Forum, total 53, 27 of distinction; Lippincott’s, total 66, 21 of distinction; The Bellman, total 53, 25 of distinction; The Smart Set, total 169, 49 of distinction.
Following the text of the poems making the anthology in this volume, I have given the titles and authors of all the poems classified as the distinctive, published in the magazines for the year, only excepting those that are included in the anthology; in addition I give a list of all the poems and their authors in the one hundred and twenty-one numbers of the magazines examined, for the purpose of a record which readers and students of poetry will find useful.
I wish to acknowledge my indebtedness and thanks to the editors of Scribner’s Magazine, Harper’s Magazine, The Forum, The Century Magazine, The Outlook, Lippincott’s Magazine, The Bellman, The Independent, The Smart Set, the Yale Review, Poetry, A Magazine of Verse; and to the publishers of these magazines, including The Poetry Journal, for the permission kindly given to reprint in this volume the text of the poems making the “Anthology of Magazine Verse for 1913.” To the authors of these poems I am equally indebted and grateful for their willingness to have me reprint their work in this form. Since their appearance in the magazines and before the close of the year when the contents of this volume was made up, two poems herein included appeared in the original volumes of their authors. For the use of William Rose Benét’s “The Marvelous Munchausen” I have also to thank The Century Co., publishers of “Merchants of Cathay,” in which volume it appears. As far as I know, only three of the poems here included are to come out immediately in books by their authors. The last four stanzas of “A Threnody,” by Mr. Louis V. Ledoux, are reprinted by permission of the editor of Scribner’s Magazine, and the rest of the poem is published in advance, by permission of Messrs. G. P. Putnam’s Sons, from a volume of Mr. Ledoux’s poems, which is also to include the “Hymn to Demeter” from “A Sicilian Idyl,” they are to issue in January, under the title of “The Shadow of Ætna.” The two selections by Mr. Richard Burton, “Here Lies Pierrot” and “Human”; the two by Willard Huntington Wright, “What of the Night?” and “Later”; the one by George Edward Woodberry, “St. John and the Faun”; and the two by Richard Le Gallienne, “May is Building Her House” and “Desiderium” (which while this Introduction is being written has come out in Mr. Le Gallienne’s volume, “The Lonely Dancer and Other Poems,” John Lane Co.), are also being issued immediately in forthcoming volumes. If there are any others I do not know of them, and in which case I would gladly give credit, so I trust any omission of such will be charged to ignorance rather than intention. I wish it to be understood that the privilege extended me so courteously, by both the authors and the magazines, to print the poems in this volume, does not in any sense restrict the authors in their rights to print the poems in volumes of their own.
A significant fact which the poetry in this volume must bring to the reader’s mind in considering American poetry of today is, that these selections have been published for the first time during the current year. Our poetry needs, more than anything else, encouragement and support, to reveal its qualities. The poets are doing satisfying and vitally excellent work, and it only remains for the American public to do its duty by showing a substantial appreciation.
Lastly, I wish to thank the Boston Transcript for the privilege of reprinting material in this book which originally appeared in the columns of that paper.
Cambridge, December, 1913. W. S. B.
HYMN TO DEMETER
From “A Sicilian Idyl”
Weave the dance, and raise again the sacred chorus;
Wreathe the garlands of the spring about the hair;