
FUGITIVE POETRY.
FUGITIVE POETRY:
BY N.P. WILLIS.
FUGITIVE POETRY.
THE SHUNAMITE.
SCENE IN GETHSEMANE.
CONTEMPLATION.
SKETCH OF A SCHOOLFELLOW.
IDLENESS.
ON THE DEATH OF EDWARD PAYSON, D.D.
A modest volume of early‑nineteenth‑century verse opens with a quiet appeal to lift the spirits of a weary world. Its author frames the collection as a gentle remedy for “the heavy heart of one moment of sorrow,” hoping each piece might coax a more benevolent view of humanity. The dedication to a close friend adds a personal touch that sets a warm, conversational tone from the first page.
Inside, the poems wander through sun‑scorched fields, simple domestic scenes, and fleeting moments of childhood wonder. From the tender “Shunamite” that follows a boy’s brief, tragic journey among ripe grain to contemplations on loss, love, and the sparkle of a distant star, the pieces balance lyrical modesty with vivid observation. Even the brief sonnets and occasional hymn‑like verses echo the era’s reverence for nature and moral reflection.
Readers will find a mosaic of emotions—joy, melancholy, quiet awe—presented in language that feels both historic and surprisingly accessible, making the book a comforting companion for anyone seeking brief, heartfelt escapes.
Language
en
Duration
~1 hours (74K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Louise Davies, Christine D. and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
Release date
2010-04-26
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1806–1867
A star of the early American literary scene, he mixed poetry, travel writing, and polished magazine prose in a way that made him one of the best-known writers of his time. His work offers a lively window into 19th-century taste, celebrity, and publishing.
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