"AUTUMN DAWN."

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20523, 16 April 1932, Page 13

"AUTUMN DAWN."

TO THE IDITOB OF THE PRESS, Sir,— May I attempt to disarm criticism by confessing that I am one of the humblest and most unpretentious of literary students; and, as I am in the confessional box, let mo add that I am a survival i'rom the despised Victorian years, believing still in the old poets and poetry, and in the old poetic forms which our smart, clever poffts or to-day so ostentatiously deride. Now, when I read in Saturday's Pbess a blank or free verso poem entitled "Autumn Dawn." tho thought occurred to me that it would bo interesting to recast the pooin in Tennyson ian verse, using as closely as possible the terminology of the original poom. I besj to subip.it now the result of such an attempt, to which I have devotod a spare half-hour. A little more time would have enabled mo probably to hold still elospr to the original words and phrasing. I think, however, my verses retain the .sense of the original. And now I ask this question of your poet and your readers: Is it not probable that tho average reader, even if ho be an advanced Georgian, would read the rhymed version with greater pleasure .-bar. tho' freo verse? And would it not have a better chance of being remembered? To learn the original version by heart would be a difficult task and uncongenial. To. learn tho rhyinsd version would bo easy—and to begin with, it would be far more easily read and understood. If these things be so, would it nob be worth the poet's while to give his future poems in rhymed verse? The appreciation of a far larger and more (sympathetic audience would be his reward.—Yours, etc., S.M. (Thristchurch, April 11th, 1932. AUTUMN DAWN. Upon the greyness of the . dawn Again, again gold softly steals, And, in its radiance, reveals The sun-burned sweeps of plain and lawn. And far. pure mountains speaking peace, ,And that great mirror, shining bright, Reflecting skies of cloud and light The mirror of the misty seas. Now fades the soft assuaging mist, Its assignation with the sod (Its purpose, preordained by God), Fulfilled in that groat nuptial tryst. Earth takes her ease, her duty done. Jfer harvest with its bounteous yield, Rich garnered in from every field, She bathes her swart limbs in the sun. Ah, soul! be still in this still hoitr Behold these gilt-beams, give assent To the sun's work, and sense the scents Borne faintly from grass, tree, and flower. Nor heed the riro-riro, 'bent To flash bis music for thy thought Till it be full-attnnod, nnd brought To harmonise with his content. Alu memory! retain for me The calm of this awakening mood To Autumn's gracious amplitude Till (lawn break on Eternity.