Verse

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32975, 22 July 1972, Page 10

Verse

Celebrations. By William Plomer. Cape. 64 pp. Bom in 1903, one year after his compatriot Roy Campbell. William Plomer has had a long and fruitful writing career—he has produced more than 20 books of poetry. Action, and biography, and his verse still appears in a remarkably wide range of British magazines, including publications as diverse as “London Magazine” (of which he was poetry reviewer for some time), “Country Life,” and “Outposts.” In fact, one reflects as one reads through this volume, Plomer is very much a “magazine poet,” predominantly an author of short, satirical pieces of no great complexity or dexterity, but often a most refreshing change when wedged in at the end of a heavier article. In bulk, however, their shortcomings become rather more apparent, and one becomes conscious of rhythmic tedium, smug veneration of good taste, and some very tired language: Both wear a look of contemptuous amusement, of superior tolerance, but fail to hide annoyance and uneasiness at her persistence. This verse, though not typical, does epitomise the ponderous style to which Plomer is addicted, a style which, though obviously limited, does acommodate certain types of satire and monumental celebratory verse of a most blatant nature. But perhaps that is what the title implies.