I am grateful to the Yale University Librarians for help on bibliographical matters, and to Professor Charles Bennett and Byrne Hackett, Esquire, for giving some facts about the Irish poets. W. L. P. PREFACE The material in this volume originally appeared in _The Bookman_, 1917-1918. It is now published with much addition and revision. The Great War has had a stimulating effect on the production of poetry. Professional poets have been spokesmen for the inarticulate, and a host of hitherto unknown writers have acquired reputation. An immense amount of verse has been written by soldiers in active service. The Allies are fighting for human liberty, and this Idea is an inspiration. It is comforting to know that some who have made the supreme sacrifice will be remembered through their printed poems, and it is a pleasure to aid in giving them public recognition. Furthermore, the war, undertaken by Germany to dominate the world by crushing the power of Great Britain, has united all English-speaking people as nothing else could have done. In this book, all poetry written in the English language is considered as belonging to English literature. It should be apparent that I am not a sectarian in art, but am thankful for poetry wherever I find it. I have endeavored to make clear the artistic, intellectual, and spiritual significance of many of our contemporary English-writing poets. The difficulties of such an undertaking are obvious; but there are two standards of measure. One is the literature of the past, the other is the life of today. I judge every new poet by these. CONTENTS I SOME CONTRASTS--HENLEY, THOMPSON, HARDY, KIPLING II PHILLIPS, WATSON, NOYES, HOUSMAN III JOHN MASEFIELD IV GIBSON AND HODGSON V BROOKE, FLECKER, DE LA MARE, AND OTHERS VI THE IRISH POETS VII AMERICAN VETERANS AND FORERUNNERS VIII VACHEL LINDSAY AND ROBERT FROST IX AMY LOWELL, ANNA BRANCH, EDGAR LEE MASTERS, LOUIS UNTERMEYER X SARA TEASDALE, ALAN SEEGER, AND OTHERS XI A GROUP OF YALE POETS APPENDIX INDEX THE ADVANCE OF ENGLISH POETRY IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY CHAPTER I SOME CONTRASTS--HENLEY, THOMPSON, HARDY, KIPLING Meaning of the word "advance"--the present widespread interest in poetry--the spiritual warfare--Henley and Thompson--Thomas Hardy a prophet in literature--_The Dynasts_--his atheism--his lyrical power--Kipling the Victorian--his future possibilities--Robert Bridges--Robert W. Service.