PRIZE POEM COMPETITION

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 30, 6 February 1931, Unnumbered Page

PRIZE POEM COMPETITION

HE prize of half a guinea in the current competition is awarded T to "Oh Mack" for her poem entitled "The Wisdom of the Roads," and we feel sure its loving. observation and human sympathy, coupled with lilting expression thereof, will find many admirers. The general level of work sent in during the past fortnight has been of a high average of quality, and we select for special commendation "Rain After Drought," by "Ginger," which runs the prizewinner very close but is not quite so strong in imaginative insight. (The winning poem appears on the opposite page.) "Ocean and Air Mails": An attractive effort anent lack of unison of Nature’s moods with those of poor humanity. U.C. sends an outstanding poem in which echoes something of the music of the spheres. Unfortunately our contributor has neglected to comply with the condition, which sets a limit of 25 lines to any poem accepted for publication in this column. "Thur’s" small ode to friendship is skilfully composed with a true touch of sentiment. "Cantor" contributes melodious requiem of Nature for one who in life | cultivated his garden: In the Chapel, dimly lit, One lay in state who planted it,- Who saw in bird and flower and tree The favour of Divinity. D.A.S.: Your versification of ancient Maori legend catches something of the spirit of romance, but the workmanship is not above reproach. "Mother": We admire your versatility, but perhaps the "Baby" poen: would have better luck with an exclusively feminine publication. H.R.S.: Your pagan poem, with its insistence that beauty is truth, truth beauty, is attractive; as also the two brief verses voicing respective lure of swallow and cuckoo, clematis and rata. But neither is up to prize-winning form. . . "Oxford": Your "Dreaming spires" are very mundane in architecture.