PREFACE NOTE TO 2d ANNEX, CONCLUDING L. OF G.— 1891. HAD I not better withhold (in this old age and paralysis of me) such little tags and fringe-dots (maybe specks, stains,) as follow a long dusty journey, and witness it afterward? I have probably not been enough afraid of careless touches, from the first- and am not now-nor of parrot-like repetitions - nor platitudes and the commonplace. Perhaps I am too democratic for such avoidances. Besides, is not the verse-field, as originally plann'd by my theory, now sufficiently illustrated—and full time for me to silently retire? - (indeed amid no loud call or market for my sort of poetic utterance). In answer, or rather defiance, to that kind of well-put interrogation, here comes this little cluster, and conclusion of my preceding clusters. Though not at all clear that, as here collated, it is worth printing (certainly I have nothing fresh to write) — I while away the hours of my 72d year- - hours of forced confinement in my den-by putting in shape this small old age collation: Last droplets of and after spontaneous rain, From many limpid distillations and past showers; (Will they germinate anything? mere exhalations as they all are- Will they filter to any deep emotion? any heart and brain?) However that may be, I feel like improving to-day's opportunity and wind up. During the last two years I have sent out, in the lulls of illness and exhaustion, certain chirps - lingeringdying ones probably (undoubtedly) — which now I may as well gather and put in fair type while able to see correctly (for my eyes plainly warn me they are dimming, and my brain more and more palpably neglects or refuses, month after month, even slight tasks or revisions). In fact, here I am these current years 1890 and '91, (each successive fortnight getting stiffer and stuck deeper) much like some hard-cased dilapidated grim ancient shell-fish or timebang'd conch (no legs, utterly non-locomotive) cast up high and |