THE ROYAL ODE

New Zealand Listener, Volume 21, Issue 523, 1 July 1949, Page 5

THE ROYAL ODE

Sir,-I have read the criticism by H. E. Gunter on the winning effort, and I am inclined to agree. The poem is difficult to follow or understand, and if it fails to appeal to the great majority of readers surely the purpose of the competition has not been achieved, But my ‘main criticism concerns its suitability for musical purposes. Simplicity in expression and thought appears to be the main attribute of lyric poetry, and the finest examples of song-writing and also of literature are marked by simple, clear, understandable words. One of the best authorities on the art of versification and song-writing states that to awaken sympathy by the simplest words will go further in a song than pomp of language and elaborate polish.

X-RAY

(Hamilton).

Sir-Would somebody please tell me what the winning Royal Ode entry as published in a recent Listener is about? I really have tried to understand it, and have read it over so often that I almost know it by heart. If it is to be pre‘gented to Their Majesties from the people of New Zealand it would be nice to know something of its hidden mean-

ing.

DENSE

(Picton).

Sir -Two previous correspondents on the Royal Ode show a niggardly pettifogging lack of appreciation for a momentous saga of inspiration. Mr. Gunter settles back in his antiquated smug complacency, uot deigning to give credit for anything youthful or invigorating which may depart from the ageold rigid style of Tennyson or Byron. His failure to understand the poem is a result of reading it too minutely, word by word. To truly appreciate the poem, one must read it as it is writtensweepingly, majestically, as the "North wheels into south." Mr. Gunter is not a poet, but as he admits, a "versewriter."

Your other contributor also has a limited perspective in that he can not see in the poem any homage to the Crown, That is because he regards the Crown as some special object of veneration which we must gaze at respectfully from a distance, not presuming to approach or understand. Ruth France has dared to approach, and to understand. Consequently she is able to give us a personal, intimate glimpse into the life of our Sovereign; in "The Stream and the Discévery," this is done in such a manner that the depths of feeling and respect for the King and his gracious Queen are apparently beyond the stereotyped comprehension of "Also Perplexed." May I sincerely compliment Ruth France upon her laudable composition. Especially do I congratulate her for seeing beyond the present time, to when the King of Kings will " ... . lead love, and in turn his one kingdom Will bring all men, all races, out of the low cave-mouths of war."

E. BEVAN

WILTSHIRE

(Christchurch).

Sir,-This alleged ode, which 99.9 per cent. of the population do not understand, would supply an argument, if needed, in favour of basic English, I sincerely hope it will not be inflicted on Their Majesties, should they ever come here. I am told this ode is modern art. If so, I can only say, "Thank God for the Byrons, the Tennysons and the sine ant acain. Thank Goa."

BEACHCOMBER

(Brown’s Bay).

Sir-While not depreciating the beauty of intellectual words in lines of The Royal Ode, I would appreciate a simple explanation of much hidden meaning. After frequent reading I am still wondering what this all adds up to. Perhaps someone with a higher power of perception than rifme may enlighten the curiosity of a devoted poetry reader and verse-maker.

E. E.

MANNINGTON

(Te Awamutu),

Sir,-I should like to say how much I agree with H. E. Gunter in his opinion of the Royal Ode. Like him I read, reread, and sat back and wondered, though to one who has read New Zealand New Writing, of which one of the judges was editor, it is not, perhaps, so surprising that this strange piece of work should have been given first prize. One cannot help wondering whether the 312 entries were all of such poor quality. If such was the case I think it would have been better not to make an award at ‘all. I think that some of New Zealand’s so-called intellectuals are doing more harm to our literature than can safely be estimated, and I believe that the handling of most of our talent is in the wrong hands. It is this factor which does so much to make us (and outsiders) believe that we have no worthwhile literature of our own. ~

J.

DARKE

(New Plymouth).

(Other letters. are so numerous that space could not be found for them. Perhaps the subject can be closed most fittingly by quoting the last sentence from a letter signed "Sporting Competitor": "However it was adjudged a better effort than mine, and I congratulate the winner.’’-Ed.)