Nodding Laureate

POETRY -- John Masefield -- Macmillan John Collings Squire once defined poetry as the writings of Chaucer, Spenser, Milton, et al. In the present essay, lately (Oct. 15) delivered as a lecture at the Queen's Hall in London, John Mase field follows much the same track, defines poetry by quoting it. He is less nationalistic than Editor Squire; Shakespeare, Dante, Aeschylus and Homer are Poetry to him. His poetic license having been conferred on him by royal appointment, Laureate Masefield does not hesitate to use it. Specimens: Poetry "is best in lands of vintage and in those sunny years which have been years of good vintage."* It is "the wine of the human grape." It is, in short, something of which "it is not possible to speak . . . without submission to something not understood, that is greater than the perishing self." The subjects of the most readable parts of the book are already in libraries, under the names of Shakespeare, Dante, Aeschylus, Homer.

*English Laureates traditionally have received annually, as part of their governmental encouragement, a butt of good Canary wine. Laureate Masefield, a respectable, spurned the wine. "I simply don't like the taste of it. On the hand, I like its appearance."

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