"DONT'S" FOR POETS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2721, 16 March 1916, Page 3

"DONT'S" FOR POETS

9 There are at least, sixteen commandments for the poet who would eke,out his existence at verse. They are as follow:— 1 . ■ Don't think of yourself as a poet, and don't dress lhe part. Don't classify yourself as a member of any special school or group. Don't call your quarters a garret or a studio.'

Don't 'frequent exclusively the company of writers. Don't think of any class of work that you feel moved to do as either beneath you or above you

Don't complain of lack of appreciation. (In the long run no really good published work. can escape appreciation.) '

Don't think you are entitled to any. special rights, privileges, and immuifrties as a literary person, or have any more reason to consider your possible lack of fame a grievance against the world than has any shipping-clerk or travelling salesman. Don't speak of poetic license or believe that there is any .such thing.

Don't tolerate in your .own work any flaws in rhythm, rhyme,' melody, or grammar. Doii't use "e'er" for "over," "o'er" for "over," "whanas" or "what time" for "when," or any of the '/poetical" commonplaces of the past. Don't say "did go" for "went," even 'if you need an extra syllable.

Don't, omit articles: or : prepositions, for the saks of tho rhythm.

Don't have your book published at your own expense by any, house , that makes a practice of publishing at the author's expense... _ Don't write poems about unborn babies. write hymns to the Great God Pan. Ho is dead, let him rest in peace! \ Don't 'write what everybndy else is writing.

. Mr. George Warren, who "has been in the Public Service for the past sixteen years, and who has been appointed Offi-cer-in-Charge of Government Buildings in Wellington, in succession to Captain Hennah, who recently retired on superannuation. Mr. Warren is a son of the late Mr. William Warren, of the Defence Department, and brother-in-law of Brigadier-General G. S. Richardson, whose appointment as military adviser to Sir Thomas Mackenzie, and Commander of New Zealand soldiers in Great Britain, was. announced yesterday. Mr. Warren was born in Auckland, where his father was stationed as a colour-sergeant in the Gsth Regiment, hut he lias lived 1 in Wellington nearly all his life. At the present timo he is,custodian of tho Publio Trust Building and Deputy-Inspector of Government Messengers. He is to take up his new duties next Monday. The late Mr. E. G. B. Moss, who died in ' Auckland • last week, at one ' time represented Ohinemuri in the House of Representatives. The deceased was about sixty years of age, and the second son of the late Mr. F. J. Moss, of Auckland, who sat in Parliament as member for Parnel] for .many years. Mr. ' Edward Moss was born on the- island of St. Helena. In 1859 he arrived in the colony with his parents by the ship Zealandia, and was educated at tho Dunedin High School and thfe Church of England Grammar School. Parnell. He was articled to Mr. Andrew Beveridge, Provincial Solicitor, Auckland, and was admitted to the Bar on October 15. 1877. He afterwards practised at Greymouth, Tauranga, Paeroa, and Auckland. His death was not altogether unexpected, as he had been in indifferent health for the past three or four years. Mr-Moss has left a widow, sister of Captain G. T. Hull, of Welliisgton. .