Daniel McIntyre Collegiate Institute - Breezes Yearbook (Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada)

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D. M. C. I. BREEZES 11 LITERARY ALFRED NOYES “If thou, indeed, derive thy light from Heaven— Thine, poet, in thy place, and he content.” TO the writer, who has heard but one other poet, Bliss Carman, the appearance of Alfred Noyes was a distinct surprise. Here was no long-haired Bohemian, but a man who gave an impression of stolidity, of being a successful business man, rather than a poet. His high fore¬ head (that of a thinker) might have betrayed him, but otherwise his rather heavy face was in no way suggestive of the dreamer. Mr. Noyes declared that he would give a prpse talk on “Poetry and Life,” before reading some original poems. With his first words one was impressed by his charming voice, and as he continued, calling poetry the greatest part of England’s magnificent heritage of literature, the impression grew. “Poetry,” he said, “ is the voice of the ages. What do we remember of Greece, but her poetry; of Rome, but Virgil; of Elizabethan times, but immortal Shakspeare; and of the Victorian age, but those loveliest of all musical lines in the language— ‘Magic casements opening on the foam, Of perilous seas, in faery lands forlorn’?” Mr. Noyes has a distinct dislike for “free verse,” which he calls a contradiction in terms. He mentioned a book of poems (?) written as a joke by two Americans, which was hailed by the press of turn contin¬ ents as the greatest work since Elizabeth’s time. In a mocking voice the poet recited the first of these “Spectra”—“Op. 40.” “A few years ago,” announced the lecturer, “everyone thought that poetry was nonsense.” Therefore, when publishers received nonsense they concluded that it was poetry. This nonsensical rhyme had taken from poetry all the music which gave it the name. To prove that music was an essential part of true verse, Mr. Noyes quoted— “I sing of arms and the man.”—Virgil. “I sing of man’s first disobedience.”—Milton. “Oh, Lyric Love, half angel and half bird.”—Browning. We thought that Virgil probably performed the time-honored feat of turning in his grave on being called the “Tennyson of Rome,” and that we heard Tennyson cry out his unworthiness of being called “Virgil of England”; but probably the lecturer knows best. “The poet of today,” stated Mr. Noyes, “thinks that music in poetry should be eliminated.” This is not so! A genuine poet “sub¬ jects himself to metrical laws,” and his words must move in measure, as do the sun and the stars. In Shakespeare’s plays, we notice the poet’s lack of interest by his more uninteresting, or recitative form of

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10 D. M. C. I. BREEZES JUNIOR BOYS’ GLEE CLUB The Junior Boys’ Glee Club elected its officers as follows: Presi¬ dent, Charles Boyd, Room 11; Secretary, Bill Halleran, Room 13; Treas¬ urer, Bob Hampton, Room 13; Librarian, George Saunders, Room 13; “Breezes” Representative, Harold Manson, Room 42. The first songs the Glee Club sang were: “The Goblin Gold” and “Rolling Down to Rio.” —H. M. GREATNESS!! And some have greatness thrust upon them. SPORTING GOODS Our stock is complete. See us for your requirements. SKATES AND BOOTS, HOCKEY STICKS, SNOWSHOES, PENNANTS, ETC. SHAW’S SPORTS STORE FARQUHAR SHAW LTD. 387 Portage Ave., opposite Boyd Bldg.

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12 D. M. C. I. BREEZES verse. When the emotion is intense, only the heart eould register the precision of the metre. For example: “To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow, Creeps in this petty pace from day to day, To the last syllable of recorded time.” Great poetry cannot be translated, for in translation its metre and significance are lost. But great poetry is immortal, and when nothing of our century remains, it will abide, was Mr. Noyes’ prophecy. In the lightest song, a great poet could state a living fact—• “Journey’s end in lovers’ meeting, Which every mother’s son doth know.” The strongest part of religion, the poet pointed out, is its uncon¬ scious poetry. Shakespeare, by his immortal music, “pierced through the temporal veil of things.” Finally, there are two things (according to Mr. Noyes) which move a man—“the starry heavens, and the law within him.” Before reciting his own poetry, the poet stated that he would not elocutionize. We agree with the Tribune writ er, who said “he cannot recite poetry worth a hoot, and neither can I,” but it is very seldom that one finds a poet capable of rendering his own work. The magic of the words carried us away, if the poet’s interpretation did not, and once more we were “down to Kew in lilac-time,” once more “La Tra- viata sighed,” and once more the Highwayman “was shrieking a curse to the sky.” Personally we enjoyed the much-abused sonnet “The Double Fortress,” more than anything else. We cannot thank the National Council of Education enough for giving us this never-to-be-forgotten literary treat. —Cherry Crawford. VACATION We often think we’d like to go Where ears don’t freeze nor fingers glow, Nor school bells ring, nor school books found ; And we’d have landscape all around. Landscape enhanced by hills and trees, And meadows where flowers scent the breeze, The gurgling and spla shing of mountain brooks Flowing where forests made shady nooks. Sometimes we feel we’d like to slam Our books, and dodge the next exam, And get out where the sky is blue, And, say, how does it seem to you? —‘Roy Mason, 51.