THE MODERN IDIOM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26545, 21 August 1947, Page 11

THE MODERN IDIOM

Sir, —It has been on my mind for some time to write you on the subject of modern poetry and modern art in general. I must confess I am one of the old school, and, although I have tried again and again, I can make nothing but nonsense of modern verse, and even that nonsense is not expressed well or humorously, and appears to be intentionally made as obscure as possible. Poetry, music and art all come into the same category. We used to consider that a poem depended on the haunting musical lilt of the words, and that in pure poetry the argument was subordinate to this. ' I sometimes wonder if it is nothing but a huge leg-pull to see how far the public can be led up the garden path. We hear of experiments made—a jumble of words taken at random from a directory—and the public fell for it. In music it is, if anything, worse; harshness, discord, want of refinement seem to be the aim of most of the moderns. In our house as soon as it starts on the wireless we rush and turn it off—we simply cannot bear it. Could any of your readers put me wise, as at present I am driven back to the old masters in literature, music,and art. —I am, etc., J. M. Armfleld. Brighton, August 18.