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May 07, 1922 - Image 13

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Publication:
The Michigan Daily, 1922-05-07

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SUNDAY MAGAZINE
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, SUNDAY, MAY 7, 1922
The Poet Series - IV. Amy Lowell
(By Lois Elisabeth Whiteomb) In 1917 her critical volume, "Ten- "'Polyphonic' means 'many-voiced,' is not purely pictorial.. "Patterns"
The 'fourth in the series of talks dencies in Modern American Poetry," and the form is so-called because it is a subtle exression of a woman's
ven in Ann Arbor by famous Amer- was published. In it she discussed makes use of the 'voices' of poetry, mental revolt against the demands
with rare insight the work of leading namely: meter, vers libre, assonance, that convention makes upon- her life.
n poets under the auspices pf the new American poets. It was the first alliteration, rhyme and return. It Technically, the chief importance of
nerican Association of University attempt to sttudy the new poetry in employs every form of rhythm, even "Patterns" lies in the exquisite mel-
omen will be by Amy Lowell at anything like a scientific manner, ana prose rhythm at times," ody of its movement, which is sug-
2ht o'clock Wednesday evening, May it was immediately recognized as a' Although much of Miss Lowell's en- gested by this fragment:
, in Hill auditorium, work of vast importance, It was t viable reputation rests upon her com- -"In Summer and Winter I shall
,decisive factor in establishing free plete mastery of technique,' she is wl
liss Lowell Isas long been a domi- verse as an authentic art form. very much more than a dextrus
ting figuein thefield Tof conem- She brings to her critical work a craftsman. She is, indeed, a story- nd dn
rar-y American poetry. The success tlrwt b The patterned gardes paths
what is known as the free verse keen penetration and a vitality of ex- tel.er with a remarkable gift for In my stiff, brocaded gown.
>vement has been due very largely pression ,that combine to make even packed and sparkling narrative, and The squills and daffodils
her brilliant and vigorous defense her more technical discussions fascin thenhas an amazingly clarity of per W will give place to pillared roses,
tse principles on which it is found- ating reading. "Tendencies in Mod- ception. She is strongly visual- and to asters, and to snow,
and to her quick appreciation of ern American Poetry" is a book in- minded, or as Mr. Untermeyer com- I shall go
, work of the chief exponents of valuable to anyone interested in con- mented in his recent lecture, "She is Up, and dowi,
e verse in this country. temporary verse. An earlier volume prefinently, the poet of the external In my gown.
Withut hr srongchapionhipof critilal essays by Miss Lowell, "Six world." She revels in tints as an rgusyary,
Without her strong championship Gorgeously arrayed,
new movement would proably tFrench Poets," is also an authorita- artist does. Even their names de- Bed d styd."
a nw ovnintwoldprbalytive study. light her, and she uses them again ne n y.
ye succumbed to the scornful andad
patient criticism of the academic- Amy Lowell's own poetical work is andC lowgspass- The historic sense is developed in
nded. She brought to the contro- published in six volumes: "A Dome a'f The Captured Goddess: Amy Lowell to an unusual degree.
rsy a keen-edged wit that she used of Many-coloured Glass," a rather I She can recreate the temper of a by-
aressly sgainst her opponents. She conventional first book which appear- gone day, bring back the atmosphere
d all the knowledge upon which ed in 1912; "Sword Blades and Poppy With 'gazing eyes and sumbling of a dead era, or bring to life a char-
, academic ,e'ended, and, in addi- Seed," a vivid and notable collec- feet. acter in history. In her remakable
m, a realization of the significance tion published two years later; "Men, I cared not where she led me, long poem, "The Fruit Shop," she re-
th. new forms. There is prolably Women and hosts," exceedingly in- My eyes were full of colours: turns to the time of Napoleon, and
critic in this country who has so teresting for its variety and vigor; Saffrons, rubies, the yellows of reconstructs with surprising reality a
refully studied poetics. Her famil- "Can Grande's Castle," four poly- beryls, delightful little episode of the mar-
'ity with French and Chinese forms phonic prose poems'; "Pictures of the And the indigo-blue O quartz; kt place, a bright genre scene, full
s been' of enormous value in her Floating World," which is often call- Flights of rose, layers of chryso- of courage and gayety and' pathos,
tri 'al training. She is an author- ed her best book, and her latest vol- prase, an undercurrent of feeling running
on conventional metrics, as well ume, "Legends," a group of narrative Points of orange, spirals of vermil- under the colorful surface.
the great advocate of free verse, poems made out of old folk stories, lion, The sympathetic side of Miss Low-
e came to the battle well equipped, The second book, "Sword Blades The spotted gold of tiger-lily petals, ell's nature finds expression in vari-
n, for she possessed an. unusually and Poppy Seed," is especially im- The loud pink of bursting hydran- ous other ways in her verses. "The
rprehensive intellectual back- portant' from a technical standpoint geas. Cornucopia of Red and Green Cosp-
ound. In addition, she had a real because it contains the first appear- I followed, fits," a poem of the war, is an inter-
joyment of the struggle. A fight in ance in English of "polyphonic And watched for the flashing of her esting combination of horror and con-
good a cause was a delight to her prose," the three examples being "In wings." sciously beautiful sensuous impres-
endidly controversial spirit, and a Castle," "The Basket," and "The sion. It was based on a news report.
a waged a merry war against the Forsaken." In explanation of this In "Patterns," which is perhaps the (probably false) to the effect that in
ongholds of the reactionaries. form, Miss Lowell has written: best-known of her poems, the interest (Continued on Page 8)
John Frederick, flidland Editor, Visits Us
(By L I W.) universities and colleges. He men- He told with pride of a new depart- specimens of the work of about twenty
tioned that the largest number of mental feature at the University of poets. Although this might seem to
t studen certainly pts out the manuscripts submitted by undergrad- Iowa, whereby advancement in the afford sufficient opportunity for an es-
st student paper that I've seen,' uates came from the University of English department is gained on the timate of the poets represented, Mr.
lunteered Mr. Frederick, Editor of Oregon, and said that he had often basis of creative writing as well as Frederick feels that the new plan is
Midland, as he glanced admiringly wondered why this was. I suggested because of academic research. This a greater improvement, as it will give
utnd thebusy Daily office, that it might be due to -the stimulat- departure from the usual seems so each poet a real introduction.
d he sy y'ing influence of 6ne member of the fair and reasonable that one can but In addition to his activitis as editor
th - here was a gentleman of Intel- English faculty there, Mrs. Mable hope it will be successful in attract- of the Midland and member of the
ent discrimination evidently. In Holmes Parsons, a graduate of the ing gifted young writers to the fac- English faculty at the University of
artesy I could not but agree with University of Michigan who is a ulty ranks to replace some of the pe- Iowa, Mr. Frederick is also a farmer
i- .. woman of rare charm and 'a teacher dantic danglers of the golden key. He has a farm in northern Michigan
'The Sunday Magazine section is of exceptional inspirational gifts. Mr. Frederick said that he found at a considerable distance from the
iecially good," he continued. "It is Mr. Frederick inquired about the his work with the university students railroad, miles from a post-box, and
unique feature among college pa- rhetoric department here, and was exceedingly interesting. It was clear, from the nearest neighbor. Here he
s. A fine ideal" interested in the large enrollment in however, that his chief delight is in and his wife spend part of their time
:t became perfectly obvious that Mr. the Short-Story courses. He is heart- the Midland magazine. The Midland in the peaceful seclusion that they
ederick was a person of percep- ily in favor of limiting the number publishes manuscripts from all enjoy. In the summer their farm is
n. ' of students in all rhetoric courses, and parts of the country, but the prefer- made a gathering place for a few of
Ie comfended approvingly on considers it very regrettable that this ence is for Middle Western material their friends who are doing creative
literary activity evidenced at is so seldom possible. Mr. Frederick and Middle Western writers. Most work. Useually writers are invited,
University of Michigan, at- is himself a member of the English of the work published is prose, usu- but the group this summer is to in-
buting it partly to the pres- faculty of the University of Iowa, so ally prose fiction, but some verse ap- lude an artist as well. The guests
ce of 'Mr. Frost, but largely to he spoke with feeling. He conducts pears in each issue also, and one are always persons who enjoy and ap-
influence of a general wave of a critical course in Modern Poetry, number every year is devoted entirely preciate out-of-door life, and who find
erest in writing noticeable all over which is closely allied to another to poetry of the Middle 'West. Mr. the country quiet, favorable to the
country. As the Midland is pri- course in the same department, writ- Fredeick stated that this year he exercise of their artistic gifts.
cily a publication in which the ing of verse. He was greatly sur- intended to give the poetry number His own literary work includes both
rk of undergraduates and those re- prised to learn that there are no over to the work of the seven or eight prose and verse. Of the metrical
itly graduated appears, Mr. Fred- courses in poetics given at Michigan, best poets who contributed; thus giv- forms his favorite is the sonnet, which
ok is unusually well-informed con- and wondered how soon that need Ing each one adequate sace. Last he likes-for its dignity and simplicity.
'nisag literary work in the various would be supplied. year the poetry number contained . (Continued bn Page 7)
t

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