The Unpublished Preface to W. G.
Simms's Collected Poems
by
James E. Kibler
William Gilmore Simms's two-volume collection, Poems Descriptive,
Dramatic, Legendary and Contemplative was published simultaneously in
Charleston and New York in early January 1854.[1] In its 700 pages of text, it was the most
complete anthology of Simms's verse and consisted of the author's own
selections from his nearly 2,000 poems in his sixteen earlier books of verse
puplished from 1825 to 1850, and the uncollected fugitive pieces from scores
of American magazines, journals, and newspapers over a twenty-five year
span. Because Poems is one of the worthiest little-known collections
of American poetry of its time, the recent discovery of its unpublished
preface is a significant event.[2]
The preface is in the poet's hand and at one point, at least, was intended
to serve as an introduction to the collection. It is dated from Woodlands, the
poet's home on the Edisto River in Barnwell District, South Carolina, and is
dated 19 December 1852, at the time Simms was readying the manuscript of
volume one of Poems for shipment to his publisher J. S. Redfield in
New York. By 25 January 1853, he was reporting that he had sent the
entirety of volume one on a steamer to that city.[3] By October 1853, Simms was expecting the
two-volume edition to issue from the press, but it did not appear until early
the next year.[4]
When the volumes did appear, the preface was absent. There is no
evidence as to why. The extant preface is heavily revised with interlinings,
and probably represents a preliminary draft of a recopied version sent to
Redfield, if indeed Simms did send it. It is impossible to say whether it was
Simms or his editor who deleted it from the published work.
In either case, the preface provides valuable information about the
special care the poet took in selecting, revising, and polishing his poems, and
thus
gives us further evidence that he was not cavalier about such matters, despite
a mistaken modern view to the contrary. The preface shows that Simms was
very concerned with which works would be left "on record in connection
with my name," those "such as I deem the best."
The content and spirit of the preface accord well with Simms's statement
of 14 January 1852 that he wished "to revise and make myself as worthy as
possible in the eyes of future criticism."[5]
The concern over his text that he expressed in his preface was commensurate
with his declaration to Evert Duyckinck on 24 November 1853, that "my
poetical works exhibit the highest phase of the Imaginative faculty which this
country has yet exhibited, and the most philosophical in connection with it.
This sounds to you very egotistical, perhaps, but I am now 47 years old, and
do not fear to say to a friend what I think of my own labor. The vulgar taste
for poetry which requires little more at any time than lucid and liquid
commonplaces, I do not contemplate at all, and my desire is rather to put
myself on record for future judgment than to become a temporary cry
for the hurrying mob."[6] Of popular
contemporary poetry in
America, Simms wrote that "Your song must be such as one can read
running, and comprehend while munching pea-nuts."[7] For Simms, poetry was patently not as
"commonly thought to be the mere purpose of the idle hour, a soothing
pastime for writer and reader"[8] or
"elegant trifles" written from an "occasional dalliance" with the Muse.[9] To Duyckinck again, he criticized modern
American poetry, "the merits of which lie upon the surface."[10] Simms summarized his credo by saying that
"all the great authors . . . were all professional authors, — surrendering life
to this one object. Nothing that we know, has ever come from amateur
authorship, but dilletantism, affectation, pretence."[11]
These statements and the reinforcing words of the preface reveal Simms's
professionalism and high seriousness. It is important that after nearly a
century and a half, his preface finally be published as an aid to our
understanding that as a poet, Simms was a careful and meticulous craftsman
and a man of proper, serious, and honorable intent. His preface gives us
further indication of the reasons why he was indeed "a good poet, versatile,
accessible, learned, and passionate in feeling" with an ease of technique that
makes his verse "inviting" to the modern reader.[12]
Here follows Simms's preface, printed for the first time, in its entirety
and without emendation. By the concluding word "badge" Simms was no
doubt imaging "slave badge" identification, to extend the figure of the poem
as "fugitive" now gathered home.
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These volumes [next three words interlined above cancelled form
a selection] are drawn from from the various [collections of
cancelled; volumes interlined and cancelled; next two words
interlined] collections of verse which I have [next word interlined
above cancelled written] printed. As the greater number of these were
printed rather for private distribution — than for sale — printed, in fact,
without being published — they are not now to be had; and
frequent applications for them, have persuaded my publisher to believe that a
complete edition, in a compact form, of all those poems which I am willing to
leave on record [next two words interlined with caret] in connection
with my name, will be acceptable to the public. In preparing this collection I
have endeavoured to repair the defects [expressive cancelled; of an
interlined with caret and cancelled] of [next word interlined above
cancelled carelessness]
heedlessness & haste in the previous volumes. A voluminous writer is apt
to be [next word interlined above cancelled reckless] careless of his
costume, [the cancelled; a careless interlined with caret and
cancelled; next four words interlined] and to send forth his thoughts with
a [next two words interlined above cancelled degree of] certain
unwise recklessness which is characteristic of the temperament, rather than
the mind. It is a fault perhaps inseparable from voluminousness; [next
word interlined above cancelled and] though usually supposed to be
more than atoned for, by a [next word interlined with caret]
corresponding [interlined posses cancelled] degree of force
and earnestness, the very possession of which makes the writer regardless of
much nicety of finish & detail. In the collection which follows I have
sought to repair some of these faults of taste & temperament, and have
[next two words interlined with
caret] made my selection of contents carefully from my metrical writings,
of such as I deem the best. Some of the smaller pieces are reclaimed
fugitives, who having become favourites, while unknown, and brought credit
to their owner, may now properly be made to wear his badge.
Woodlands, S. C. Decr. 19, 1852
Notes
