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Some of the poems included
in Dreams o' Hame (Alex. Gardner) by Mr. James D. Law, have appeared
before, but the bulk of them are new. They show at least that the old
Doric has crossed the Atlantic, and that American Scotsmen still retain
a tender affection for their old home. Mr. Law is a skilful versifier,
and has a good deal of the poet in him. His poems in the Scottish
dialect are preferable to his experiments in English verse. In his
native dialect he is more at home, and the words seem to fit better to
his thoughts. 'A Dream o' Hame,' both in its geographical and historical
part, is exceptionally good, and shows that the author has the art of
throwing off a vivid picture in a few words. The version of the first
Psalm is interesting; but it will be hard to supplant the old version,
now so completely interwoven into the religious thought of the country.
Mr. Law has an abundance of quiet humour, and makes good use of it. The
'proem' is curious. On the whole, however, the volume we imagine, will
find a wide circle of readers, and will be enjoyed.
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Dreams o' Hame here |
