Georgian poetry, 1920-22

English poetry -- 20th century
The ideal 'Georgian Poetry'--a book which would err neither by omission
nor by inclusion, and would contain the best, and only the best poems of
the best, and only the best poets of the day--could only be achieved, if
at all, by dint of a Royal Commission. The present volume is nothing of
the kind.

I may add one word bearing on my aim in selection. Much admired modern
work seems to me, in its lack of inspiration and its disregard of form,
like gravy imitating lava. Its upholders may retort that much of the
work which I prefer seems to them, in its lack of inspiration and its
comparative finish, like tapioca imitating pearls. Either view--possibly
both--may be right. I will only say that with an occasional exception
for some piece of rebelliousness or even levity which may have taken my
fancy, I have tried to choose no verse but such as in Wordsworth's phrase

    The high and tender Muses shall accept
    With gracious smile, deliberately pleased.

There are seven new-comers--Messrs. Armstrong, Blunden, Hughes, Kerr,
Prewett and Quennell, and Miss Sackville-West. Thanks and
acknowledgments are due to Messrs. Jonathan Cape, Chatto and Windus, R.
Cobden-Sanderson, Constable, W. Collins, Heinemann, Hodder and
Stoughton, John Lane, Macmillan, Martin Secker, Selwyn and Blount,
Sidgwick and Jackson, and the Golden Cockerel Press; and to the Editors
of 'The Cbapbook', 'The London Mercury' and 'The Westminster
Gazette'.

E. M.

July, 1922





CONTENTS



LASCELLES ABERCROMBIE

    Ryton Firs


MARTIN ARMSTRONG

    The Buzzards                                (from 'The Buzzards')
    Honey Harvest
    Miss Thompson Goes Shopping                 (from 'The Buzzards')


EDMUND BLUNDEN

    The Poor Man's Pig                          (from 'The Shepherd')
    Almswomen                                   (from 'The Waggoner')
    Perch-fishing                                  "    "    "
    The Giant Puffball                          (from 'The Shepherd')
    The Child's Grave                              "    "    "
    April Byeway                                   "    "    "


WILLIAM H. DAVIES

    The Captive Lion                        (from 'The Song of Life')
    A Bird's Anger                             "    "    "
    The Villain                                "    "    "
    Love's Caution                             "    "    "
    Wasted Hours                           (from 'The Hour of Magic')
    The Truth                               (from 'The Song of Life')


WALTER DE LA MARE

    The Moth                                        (from 'The Veil')
    'Sotto Voce'                                       "    "
    Sephina                                           (from 'Flora ')
    Titmouse                                        (from 'The Veil')
    Suppose                                            (from 'Flora')
    The Corner Stone                                (from 'The Veil')


JOHN DRINKWATER
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Georgian poetry, 1920-22

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