Branksome Hall - Slogan Yearbook (Toronto, Ontario Canada)

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YEAR BOOK, 1962 Page 25 or to sympathize with the passionate conviction with which poets regard the nature of their art. It is impossible to express in prose every shade of meaning and every emotional inflection. If it were not so there would be little point in writing in verse, except to attain certain rhythms and rhymes. However, poets believe that in verse, they can achieve a precision and subtlety beyond their reach in prose. Thus they, especially those of the modern trend, refuse to Hmit themselves to codified rules of syntex governing prose or to logical exposition, which regulates a barrister ' s arguments. At times, these creators experience extreme joy or sorrow of severe emotional stress. The meaning of poems produced under this intense pres- sure is obscure, for the poet does not know what he is going to say until he says it. He is not concerned with (future readers) , but only with finding the right words or, at least, eliminating the wrong ones. He may shift from one metaphor to another, or use two at once. His quick, darting thoughts link apparently opposing emotions and broken orders of experience. At this time he resembles the skier who, having finally descended a treach- erous trail to safety, looks back, and does not realize that he has made so perilous a progress. The poet is now relieved, having brought to the sur- face the burden by which he was once oppressed. Thus, obscurity lies not in the poet, but in the reader. For he, the former, in seeking absolute accuracy, exceeds the limit of customary ex- pression, and invents new uses of words, at times new words, but most frequently, new phrases and figures of speech. He who sooner than falsify his visions, delves into obscurity, should be honoured, not condemned. T. S. Eliot ' s aim was to write poetry ' ' that in reading it, we are intent on what the poem -aims at, and not on the poetry. It is important though, not to confuse obscurity with vagueness that accompanies incompetence. Some of the best modern poets are accused of this because they aimed at a precision too exacting for their readers to understand or endure. Yes, the last word is endure. Many modern poems are sometimes so reahstic that the mind revolts, rebels against them. It does not have the strength to understand or it finds them too disturbing and does not want to understand. Simply, the poems cannot be endured. In such cases, ex- cuses are easily found, for the truth is never admitted. The poetry may be called obscure, pointless or crude. What is it that the poet sees and knows that the reader does not? What is hidden from the ordinary man ? Or, rather, what would the ordin- ary man hide that the poet must reveal? Is there something in our epoch that the ' ' gentle soul finds raw? These questions are left unanswered until each individual has the courage to find the right solutions to the riddles expressed in modern poetry. LILIANA GENYK-BEREZOWSKY

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Page 24 THE BRANKSOME SLOGAN Our Album of Graduates ARTS and COMMERCIAL GAIL WHITESIDE (1958-62) Douglas- Gail was with us for her first year of high school but thought she might need a change: of course she realized she could not stay away and came back for her last year, Gail finds swimming and . . . psychology (?) her main interests outside of school. Gail hopes to work as a receptionist at the hospital; that is if marriage does not stand in her way. Good Luck. HEATHER WILSON (1959-62) — Tiny Heather came to us three years ago as a day girl but this year she was put into boarding for just a term; she liked it so much that she decided to stay in for the remaining year! Heather likes class volleyball and basketball, but baseball is her favourite. Whatever your plans are next year. Heather, we know you will do well . . . Best of Luck. PRIZE ESSAY Modern Poetry as a Means of Expression Poetry is the most universal form of literary expression. Good poetry is that which most equally and successfully combines personal and imper- sonal qualities. Without both of these qualities, it cannot exist. Personalism means self-expression, and impersonalism, the expression of a group. Thus, a poem expresses the character or personality of its author, or the character of a group in society. Works in the latter form are considered typically Greek, Roman, Elizabethan, Baroque, or Augustine, and their beauty is found in conformity. In personal poetry, the identity of the Maker is betrayed. The author composes his poem without thinking of a reader, or even without desiring one. Because of this, there is a tendency to limit the appeal to a select group. And accordingly, to many people, the meaning and purpose of the poem become obscure. This is the trend of poetry today. I propose to deal with modern poetry mainly from the angle of ob- scurity because it is thus very often classified by the reader and then put away without any further thought. Poetry becomes obscure when there is a breakdown in the flow of communication between poet and reader. Some readers will never under- stand certain poems. The majority, however, make no effort to understand.

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Page 26 THE BRANKSOME SLOGAN UNITED NATIONS DELEGATION REPORT Branksome Hall took pride in her 15 students who represented the Czechoslovakian Delegation at the Model Assembly. These students worked diligently on the political policies to present them with accuracy. Starting in September and continuing through January, these 15 diplomats attended meetings every other Sunday at the Central High School of Commerce. Here they separated into five committees ; Disarma- ment, Reorganization of the Secretariat, Human Rights, Technical Assis- tance, and the Berlin and Germany Question. There is also an Inter-Collegiate Council for the United Nations which held meetings every other Thursday at Victoria College. The I.C.C.U.N. is really the ' ' back-bone of the Model Assembly and here problems and plans for the Assembly are presented. Naturally, all the girls wanted to attend these meetings and so they all did. I find it therefore very difficult to single out one or two girls and thank them particularly. The Model Assembly was held on January 18th at Convocation Hall and at the Parliament Buildings on January 19th and 20th. Czechoslovakia, being a Communist country, was most exciting to represent and all fifteen delegates had a feeling of accompHshment when, after five months of debating, the closing ceremonies took place. We would like to thank Mrs. Coulter for her keen interest and assistance. Delegates: Cathy Flavelle, Mary Pat Jones, Margaret Mackay, Lyn Hamilton, and Patty Gelber. Alternates: Janet Keith, Mary Patterson, Carol Cowan, Terry Taylor, and Christine Husband. Observers: Faith Harrington, Jill McRoberts, Charlotte Empringham, Patricia Thomas, and Linda Ames. PATTY GELBER, Delegation Secretary U.N. CLUB REPORT Every year our United Nations Club grows and expands in activities. This year there are 116 members in the club. All of them are enthusiastic and give their full support to every project undertaken by the Club. We again sold Christmas cards this year to raise money for UNICEF. The girls did an excellent job and raised $1,200.00. Unfortunately, some of the cards could not be obtained from New York, but the co-operation of all the girls involved helped us to get over this difficulty. As I write this report, we are in the midst of planning six debates within the club and at least one against another school. We are looking forward to this, and I know that we will all gain a great deal from it. We would Uke to thank Barb for her work on the UN Corner. The colourful displays have certainly been one of the factors in the growing interest in our club. President: Cathy Flavelle; Vice-President: Carol Cowan; Secretary- Treasurer : Susan McMullen ; UN Corner : Barb Mather.