Lanier's creed, that the poet should be an inspiration for good to his
readers, is found in his lines:--
"The artist's market is the heart of man,
The artist's price some little good of man."
The great inspiration of his life was love, and he has some fine love
poems, such as _My Springs_, _In Absence_, _Evening Song_, and _Laus
Mariae_. In _The Symphony_, which voices the social sorrow for the
overworked and downtrodden, he says the problem is not one for the head but
the heart:--
"Vainly might Plato's brain revolve it,
Plainly the heart of a child could solve it."
In ending the poem, he says that even
"Music is Love in search of a word."
Strong personal love, tender pitying love for humanity, impassioned love of
nature, and a reverent love of God are found in Lanier.
The striking musical quality of Lanier's best verse is seen in these
stanzas from _Tampa Robins_:--
"The robin laughed in the orange-tree:
'Ho, windy North, a fig for thee:
While breasts are red and wings are bold
And green trees wave us globes of gold,
Time's scythe shall reap but bliss for me
--Sunlight, song, and the orange-tree.
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