Page:Mexico, picturesque, political, progressive.djvu/171

Rh In some cases the tribute is paid in a prose form, or rather in one which suggests the metrical swing and irregular cadence of Walt Whitman. I transcribe literally a portion of one:—

 "Nature, Splendid in all her manifestations, Has offered the poet An infinite number of exquisite forms With which to compare woman. But the glowing imaginations of these votaries of Apollo Not content with the enchanting realities Of flowers, of stars, of sunbeams, of birds, Of palm-trees, of pearls, of diamonds— Have flown from the visible world To seek the forms of seraphs and angels. Of celestial powers, And of the marvellous visions with which fancy has peopled infinite space. To discover new graces With which to adorn their idol.

Amid this wealth of brilliant and magnificent images. From this universe of real or imaginary beauties, I, who have now reached in my wandering the frigid and narrow zone of old age. Desire to choose from my remembrances A flower, a pearl, a star,