ut these wings, in a critical view, is that
they fulfill the proper function of wings--bear aloft and sustain in
flight through the azure depths. Mr. Hill's wings do bear aloft and
sustain: if not always, nor even ever, into the very empyrean of
poetry, yet invariably, seventy times, into the ampler air. Like all
his race, he has suffered much; and, like all his race still, he has
gathered wisdom from sorrow. As a true poet should have, he has
philosophy, also vision and imagination--vision for himself and his
people, imagination that sees facts in terms of beauty and presents
truths with vital imagery. Add thereto craftsmanship acquired in the
best traditions of English poetry and you have Hill the poet.

The merits of this book cannot be shown by the quoting of lines and
stanzas. As ever with true art, the merit lies in the effect of
complete poems. Still, we can here detach from this and that poem a
stanza or two, despite the wrong to art. The first and fourth stanzas
of the title-poem will indicate Mr. Hill's technique and philosophy:

I have a song that few will sing
In honor of all suffering,
A song to which my heart can bring
The homage of believing--
A song the heavy-laden hears
Above the clamor of his fears,
While still he walks with blinding tears,
And drains the cap of grieving.

* * * * *

So long as life is steeped in wrong,
And nations cry: "How long, how long!"
I look not to the wise and strong
For peace and self-possession:
But right will rise, and mercy shine,
And justice lift her conquering sign
Where lowly people starve and pine
Beneath a world oppression.

Significant as interpreting the character and temper of the Negro with
whom today the white world has to deal, are the following lines from
the blank verse poem entitled _Armageddon_:

Because ye schooled them in the arts of life,
and gave to them your God, and poured your blood
Into their veins to make them what they are,
They shall not fail you in your hour of need,
They hold in them enough of you to feel
All that has made you masters in your time--
The power of art and wealth, unending toil,
Proud types of beauty, an unbounded will
To triumph, wondrous science, and old law--
These have they learned to value and to share.

If these poems, taken collectively, do not declare "what is on the
Negr