Sept 14, '15
Indeed I shall be glad to see your new book,1 and will want to review it, naturally. -- May I see your hand- writing on the fly-leaf?
Allow me to congratulate you, both as woman and poet, upon being so happily married. Some women poets are killed by marriage -- and should be. You will merely learn & your art will grow; because you will know how to be a woman first.
The Macmillans are bringing out my "Song of Hugh Glass," an epic narrative of the Northwest -- my country. This is the first of a series of Northwest Sagas celebrating the half-forgotten heroes of the American Fur Trade. The field has never been touched before by a poet. I am now beginning the second -- "The Song of Three Friends." However, do not mention the latter title. Later, the same company will issue my Selected Lyrics.
While I'm at it, may I ask how much you have interested yourself in Greek? Tell me that you are up to the ears in it, and gratify me! Nothing equals it for the enrich- ment of personality. How wonderful their verse is! What masters of the epithet -- the test of the poet! No, no, there have been no translations. Even Browning failed, as I can very easily prove. One must go to the fountain for that water; it can not be piped to one's house, even in this ingenious age. And then -- once having got at the Greek itself, one can not thereafter fall into the trap of impressionism which is set everywhere now.
Well, good luck always!
My wife was glad to be remembered, and joins with me in all good wishes for both of you there.
Jno. G. Neihardt
Rivers to the Sea.
