PRIZE POEM COMPETITION

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 32, 20 February 1931, Unnumbered Page

PRIZE POEM COMPETITION

"HE prize of half a guinea in the current competition is awarded to M.K. for "Midnight Silence," and we congratulate our new contributor on the attractive verse form in which she has couched her poetic imagination. Another newcomer to the column is P.M., whose graceful and fiuent poem entitled "An Aspen in the City" is only slightly less admirable than that of the prize-winner. Some of the verses sent in naturally have had reference to the catastrophe that during the month has devastated Hawke’s Bay. These, however, are by no means the best poems, possibly because our reactions to the calamity are still too poignant to be expressed in any but the briefest and starkest way. "Wmotion remembered in tranqiullity’ is more amenable to the poetic muse that the first horrified recoil from those bludgeonings of fate that lately have rained so heavily upon our community. "Thur" finds inspiration in the wind lately raging o’er land and sea, contrasting its sound and fury with peaceful pillow, on which her dreams are lit by pleasant imaginative touch. S.B. sings of eternal mother-love in commendably brief. lines. Creditable for a first attempt, but still a long way from top: notch. K.M.-The prize poem competition is open to all readers: of the "Record," the only stipulation being that no poem will exceed 25 lines. S.B.D. writes with facility, but no distinction, about the recent tragedy of, ° fire and earthquake. "At Napier" is on the same tremendous topic and tells the tale in two categorical verses. "Wrecked much substantial property,’ however, is not an inspired line; neither is "The earthquake came on suddenly." Did it ever do anything else? Karl-yYou trench on too controversial a topic. H.B.-Inadequate to a degree. "Ne’er-do-well."-We regret your keenly critical exposition is outside our province.