New Hampshire, A Poem; with Notes and Grace Notes — Themes and Context

raveyards And vindicate the state’s humanity. “Just the way Steffanson runs on,” I murmured, “About the British Arctic. That’s what comes Of being in the market with a climate.”

I met a poet from another state, A zealot full of fluid inspiration, Who in the name of fluid inspiration, But in the best style of bad salesmanship, Angrily tried to make me write a protest (In verse I think) against the Volstead Act. He didn’t even offer me a drink Until I asked for one to steady _him_. This is called having an idea to sell.

It never could have happened in New Hampshire.

The only person really soiled with trade I ever stumbled on in old New Hampshire Was someone who had just come back ashamed From selling things in California. He’d built a noble mansard roof with balls On turrets like Constantinople, deep In woods some ten miles from a railroad station, As if to put forever out of mind The hope of being, as we say, received. I found him standing at the close of day Inside the threshold of his open barn, Like a lone actor on a gloomy stage— And recognized him through the iron grey In which his face was muffled to the eyes As an old boyhood friend, and once indeed A drover with me on the road to Brighton. His farm was “grounds,” and not a farm at all; His house among the local sheds and shanties Rose like a factor’s at a trading station. And he was rich, and I was still a rascal. I couldn’t keep from asking impolitely, Where had he been and what had he been doing? How did he get so? (Rich was understood.) In dealing in “old rags” in San Francisco. Oh it was terrible as well could be. We both of us turned over in our graves.

Just specimens is all New Hampshire has, One each of everything as in a show-case Which naturally she doesn’t care to sell.

She had one President (pronounce him Purse, And make the most of it for better or worse. He’s your one chance to score against the state). She had one Daniel Webster. He was all The Daniel Webster ever was or shall be. She had the Dartmouth needed to produce him.

I call her old. She has one family Whose claim is good to being settled here Before the era of colonization, And before that of exploration even. John Smith remarked them as he coasted by Dangling their legs and fishing off a wharf At the Isles of Shoals, and satisfied himself They weren’t Red Indians but veritable Pre-primitives of the white race, dawn people, Like those who furnished Adam’s sons with wives; However uninnocent they may have been In being there so early in our history. They’d been there then a hundred years or more. Pity he didn’t ask what they were up to At that date with a wharf already built, And take their name. They’ve since told me their name— Today an honored one in Nottingham.

As for what they were up to more than fishing— Suppose they weren’t behaving Puritanly, The hour had not yet struck for being good, Mankind had not yet gone on the Sabbatical. It became an explorer of the deep Not to explore too deep in others’ business.

Did you but know of him, New Hampshire has One real reformer who would change the world So it would be accepted by two classes, Artists the minute they set up as artists, Before, that is, they are themselves accepted, And boys the minute they get out of college. I can’t help thinking those are tests to go by.

And she has one I don’t know what to call him, Who comes from Philadelphia every year With a great flock of chickens of rare breeds He wants to give the educational Advantages of growing almost wild Under the watchful eye of hawk and eagle— Dorkings because they’re spoken of by Chaucer, Sussex because they’re spoken of by Herrick.

She has a touch of gold. New Hampshire gold—[2] You may have heard of it. I had a farm Offered me not long since up Berlin way With a mine on it that was worked for gold; But not gold in commercial quantities. Just enough gold to make the engagement rings And marriage rings of those who owned the farm. What gold more innocent could one have asked for?