Prize Poem Competition

Radio Record, Volume VI, Issue 4, 5 August 1932, Unnumbered Page

Prize Poem Competition

(Conducted by

John

O' Dreams

HE prize of half a guinea in the current competition is awarded to A.J.R. (New Plymouth) for "The Blind Potter," which in sensitive charm and graceful, skilful simplicity of diction will find many admirers. Our congratulations to the prize-winner, who is a valued and talented contributor to our fortnightly competition. Selected for commendation are two poenis, modern in treatment, by A.L.B., who in one has been inspired by the work of the most other-worldly of English writers of to-day, this poem being reserved for further consideration. Extracts from letters-O.H.H.: "I thought the sonnet on ‘Milton’ very fine, and entirely lacking in amateurishness."-We agree that this poem is beautiful and scholarly work. "Merrie" writes: "May.I state how much I appreciate the winning poems in each issue? There have been some lovely lines, holding great appeal." Another says: "«The Blackbird in New Zealand’ is an exquisite thing, to be cherished in my collection." "The Heights": In this tribute to Ruahine’s aloof loveliness are apparent a feeling for poesy and skilful manipulation of selected verse form. "Karakia" sends picturesque fragment. with a spark of this contributor’s characteristic originality of thought and expression. "To the Evening Star’: Held in the meantime. These beautiful lines are in exemplification of Hazlitt’s dictum that poetical impression is an exquisite sense of beauty that strives to link up with some other image of beauty or grandeur. "W.D.H." expounds excellent precept, which as didactic counsel for the conduct of dull daily round is excellent, but as poetry leaves much to be desired. O.M.S.L.: Your brace of poems discloses flair for imaginative description. But that is not enough for the making of poetry, and further study of rhythmical flow of word and phrase possibly might result in improved grace and lucidity of expression. "Merrie’s"’ two poems, both attractive, are entirely different. One is a loving description of high hills that "link the earth to sky’; the other is dedicated to a genius of the Victorian era. Refreshing to find a meinber of ‘post-ward intelligentsia paying tribute to the creator of young Copperfield, Sydney Carton, little Nell, Bill Sikes, and the rest of that great gallery. "Moreutine’: Tighten the rhymes, suppress the ego, and avoid prolixity.