IMAGIST POETRY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12069, 26 July 1917, Page 8

IMAGIST POETRY.

: Whatever is to bo th e . ultimate judgment on imagist poetry, says a Boston paper, there can be no doubt that it is deserving of a careful attention from those who rocogniw the. importance and significance of new developments in literature. For this reason, "Some luiagisfc Poets, 1917," is very welcome. Imagist poetry is a n'ew development, at amy rote, as far as English literature is concerned. It conforms to no recognised standard of verse and, indeed, is not verse in any sense of that word. It has no rhyme and makes no special attempt at rhythm, and yet, when well done, it is capable of fulfilling the very highest mission of poetry. It requires, ho-vever, to ba done well and it is quite clearly not a short cut to effect. It makes insistent demand for win idea, and if. this bo lacking at" has nothing in tho wa.y of appeal to the 'ear to help it to pass muster. Tho following extract from John Gould Fletcher's "Moonlight" is, perhaps, typical enough to serve as 'an illustration.:— The a'lsy is covered Vifh light, white wi*ps of cloud; ._■■.. Afar in the psJe -and hazy sky A lone star glitters—flickers—glitters ■ Over the thin-leaved motion less trees, Standing in washes of darkness Upon tho blue gray of the distance, Which seems so far—so remote—so rery far As if tho moon itself , • "Were nearer earth than it,.