Auburn High School - Arrow Yearbook (Auburn, NY)

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THE JRROW Poetry 271 the 'Teeny Poetry is the record of the best and happiest moments of the best and hap- piest minds. Poetry redeems from decay the evidences of the divinity in man. Merely because a poem has been written by a fifteen-year-old does not mean that it has no connection with Shelley's definition of poetry. The fact that the metre is not perfect, that the theme of it has been used time and again does not signify that it is useless even to consider it. In spite of its stilted phrases, its time-worn expressions, it, nevertheless, has value. It is much more apt to have captured that mysterious something that constitutes real poetry than the bril- liant composition of some world-weary introvert who writes because it is the clever thing to do. Poetry in the 'teens is the frank expression of the thoughts and feelings of the writer. The youthful poet has not yet acquired the cloak of cynicism and worldliness that hides the true thought and purpose of poetry. It is useless to deny that some verse written by young writers is utterlv with- out literary merit. That, however, can be explained in part by the reminder that all writers do not 'write because they like to or because of some force that urges them to express themselves, but, like some older scribblers, because they think it smart, because they have enjoyed some verse written by other youngsters and are under the delusion that they also can compose. This verse is not born of any burning desire to explain some emotion but is merely imitation. Then, too, one must take into consideration the fact that these yo-ting 'people have not had the experience older writers have had. They are writing about emotions they have never experienced, subjects thev do not understand. To ap- preciate their verse it is necessary to go back in spirit to the 'teens again. For hundreds of years poets have been writing on the glory of a rainbow, but think of what a sense of beauty a rainbow mav awaken in a sixteen-year-old: think of what it may symbolize, before you smile at the clumsy attempt to put that feeling into verse. D It is difficult to criticize the poetrv written bv these young people. In point- ing out some error to them, however kindly and impartially you do so, you may ruin your opportunity of becoming of any help to them. What you, with your superior knowledge, think trite and unnecessary, may seem to them to be the love- liest, most inspired part of the poem. There again, excessive praise can be as harmful as criticism. These young poets realize that theirs is no work of genius and flatterv makes them think you are not a competent judge or else fmost ter- rible sin of all lj that you are secretly laughing at them. VVhat then, is the wav to be helpful? I dare not suggest any decisive manner except perhaps. first of all to win their confidence. They will take their outbursts to those whom they admire and will gratefully accept help. There is no set standard for those who would be helpful. Some of these poetic youngsters are shy and reluctant to show their treasured verse: others are entirely too proud and willing to exhibit what they believe to be works of genius. Between the two there is, I suppose, a happy medium. That, however, does not simplify the 'problem of how to be helpful. Howard Mearns, the well-known educator, has written a book on the subject called Creative Youth . In it are the poems written by some of these aspiring Page Thirteen

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a THE -ARROW In thinking of June we do not forget that it is the month of commencements. The majority of schools and colleges hold their graduation exercises in this month ot months. The tired schoolboy throws aside his books and prepares for two months of blissful happiness. To many, June is the best time of all the year, for with its glorious fresh- ness, its weddings, and its commencements, summer is in its prime. There is no struggle for existence and no drying up of that which has existed. The leafy month of June is, to my mind, the queen of beauty and happiness. -LAURA REED, '33, -iAl- Nqthzhg Ventureei, .Nqthzhg Have Our doubts are traitors And make us lose the good we Oft might win By fearing to attempt. Many opportunities have been lost in the hurry and scurry of the world be- cause someone did not exert himself to do the task that was set before him. The moment came but no decision was made and immediately acted upon. History quotes Bonaparte as saying, One of the principal requisites is an accurate calculating of time: for if your adversary can bring a powerful force to attack a certain post ten minutes sooner than you can bring up a sufficient supporting force, you are beaten even though all the rest of your plans be ever so good. , But one acting on the spur of the moment may not know whether he is act- ing in the right or in the wrong way. Lindbergh, however, came to the conclu- sion that the best way to know the difference between right and wrong was to train himself to do the right thing at all times. One would do well if one fol- lowed these words. Often, one does not act upon his resolutions because he fears to undertake the task. However, the person who ventured to accomplish a certain project never thought in the beginning that the task was impossible. He had faith that the impossible would be made possible. What one wants with sincerity, what one aims for, he gets if he is willing to pay the price. ' -ALBERTA MEAD, '32. Page Twelve l l

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THE VYRROW --1 poets. After reading his book it is not difficult to see why young people do not hesitate to show their verses to him. He would understand and appreciate them. He would realize the thrill of finding the right word, the right phrase, to express the thought. He does not ridicule their evident mistakes, yet he does not ignore them. His book is interesting and understandable. Perhaps it is most of all the fact that he is young with the writers that endears him to their hearts. He likes them and he likes their verse. Poetry in the 'teens may seem an unimportant subject for discussion. -Of the thousands of children who think they can Write when they are young, how many really ever do make names for themselves? Some give it up ffortunately for the reading public, perhapslj and others find more absorbing ways of spending a lifetime than hunting for rhyming words. Naturally most of these Writers would never make poets, but in the few that have genius lies our hope for future poets. America prides herself on fostering talent. Is it not as necessary that we have poets to carry on our ideals as it is to have statesmen to carry out our policy of government? In spite of all contrary opinion, poets are as necessary as manu- facturers. Without ideals, without beauty, a nation dies. Why should not our country excel in respect to poetry as Well as in other respects? 'To encourage this self-expression, to correct mistakes, to praise effort, is the hest means of fostering poetry. On poetry in the 'teens rests America's artistic and cultural future. -EILEEN BURNs, '32, Nast aw :sew C? t? ll Page Fourteen --