Prize Poem Competition

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 34, 6 March 1931, Unnumbered Page

Prize Poem Competition

"THE prize of half a guinea for the current competition is awarded to "The. Crystal, Age," by R.B.C. This poem has elusive beauty, and is phrased in original form. We shall hope to see more of the work of this contributor, who is new to.our columns. We like, also, the lines forwarded by "Civis,"’ which display facility . of expression, and are thoughtful and interesting, though. a certain roughness of finish is at times discernible. "John Storm" sends verses instinct with quiet sentiment. Our contributor is not at his admirable. best in the two poems under notice, though his work is never without appeal. "Tucibel Lee’ forwards a collection of her graceful rhymelets, including one anent. those "sweet cities’ that so lately toppled to their doom . "like packs of cards." ‘This, however, like other poems we have read on the same subject, is totally inadequate to so catastrophic a calamity. W.W.: That a garden is a lovesome spot, Got wot! we’ve all known since Adam and TEive walked together. All the more reason that, when using it as motif of a poem, the treatment should be distinctive, which unhappily is not the case in "Just Linger." "A Picture," framed by a tramcar window, is the subject of this effort, which conveys love of beauty but none of the glamour thereof, "A Promise": We applaud the spirit of patriotism, but its expression is aulty, "Wild Rose’: As usual in your poetry, spiritual response to beauty is apparent, but we would prefer the second line to read, "They bend ' softly to sigh." Avoid the split infinitive as you would the evil one. D.A.S. has achieved the well-nigh impossible literary feat of deifying the "Dawn" without exuding "pearlies"’ and "earlies" and sentimental verbiage of the more obvious variety. We do not recollect any recent treatment of this trite inspiration approaching his in originality and vigour. "Comfort Ye": Religious. sentiment admirable, but alas, the technique!