POETRY CIRCLE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24735, 11 October 1941, Page 12

POETRY CIRCLE

The poetry circle of the Otago Women’s Club held its annual meeting this week, when the president, Mrs V. E. Galway, presided. A satisfactory report and balance sheet were presented by the secretary, and adopted by the meeting. Members expressed satisfaction with the operation of the group, and with the programmes during the year. The election of office-bearers for the ensuing year resulted: —Chairwoman, Mrs J. W. Stewart: vice-chair-woman, Miss E. Pickles; secretary, Mrs A. H. Lawrenson; committee—Mrs Richdale, Misses Crow, Holland and Reynolds. Mrs Galway passed a vote of thanks to the committee with special reference to the retiring chairwoman, Miss Nelfeon. Before the meeting commenced members stood in silence for 3 few moments out of respect for the late secretary of the club, Miss Nicolson, after which a tribute in verse was given by one of the members. The monthly meeting followed, at which Mrs J. Stewart presided. Miss Nelson introduced the subject for the day, “.Poems from Punch,” by reading some extracts from the Listener regarding the centenary of Punch, which occurred this year, after which many poems were read, including several children’s poems, the well-known “ Song of the Shirt,” by Hood, and “ Flanders Fields,” ,by McCrae. Verses entitled “An An-tea Anacreontic,” from the first volume published in 1841, were read, as well as the more modern verses by Walter de la Mare and “ Dum Dum." After some discussion, all members agreed that Punch during the 100 years of its existence, had by its contributions helped to keep up the morale of the English-speaking people, both in peace and in war-time.