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Banshee, whole no. 5, June 1944

Page 25

Raymutterings on the March Mailing * * * 25

race if I remember my mythology--I used to be quite a fiend on mythology.... "Fantastic" seems to convey an impression of hedonism to my mind, and the images are not as definite as they could be. James Russell Gray's sonner, "They Wait Outside," is distinctly a Lovecraftian epic, and compares favorable with the old master, but I prefer his "Reflections."  "Headless Horseman" is quite good for someone who is a "casual" poet, and the other stuff is so-so.

FLEETING MOMENTS: I feel quite sure that the ration of poets per number of persons is much higher in fandom that in the outside world. Look at the fans who can turn out good verse: Lowndes, Eastman, Duane, Rimel, Farsaci... and the numerous fans who are fair, at the game: Chauvenet, Jenkins, Warner, Evans, Kinge.... need I go on? There are numerous artists in fandom; almost every fan is agile with a drawing pencil, and everybody is able to write plausibly and logically except Ludowitz. I'm surprised we don't burst with concet. (In the first classification above I should have included Youd and Singleton, but this isn't an attempt to index all of fandom's poetic genuises.)

Noble sirs, I call your attention to Comrade Farsaci's rare lyric gift. His polished, smooth style is a rarity in these days of birthday ditties and other assinine forms of commercialized verse. I believe Farsaci is going places.

His five best poems are: "A Memory of Wuthering Heights," "Star-Maiden" (first stanza of which is omitted here, but may be found in GOLDEN ATOM #10), "Across the Timeless Years," "Rapture," and "Swimer's Delight." I have sent Larry a detailed critique, but have reason to believe that it never reached him, since he has not yet replied (4-25).

I place his "Memory of Wuthering Heights" first because it is just the clear, simple type of lyric that lives in English poetry. The mood it expresses is sustained and in keeping with the lilting meter; it is concise and easy to remember, and it possesses and admirable air of finish and unity of tone. I could not refrain from writing a parody; I invite you to cmapre the original and the satire below:

A Memory of Wuthering Heights

Away to west the heather dancer,
All-golden in the sun,
As from the sky, the merry wind
Enriched all with its fun.

Oh, never bluer laughing space
Nor air with life so thrilled
Oh, never gladder two wild hears,
Nor with such mad love filled.

For the world was wide with brim-
ming joy;
True hears were together,
When Cathy cried: "Hearhcliff,
Fill my arms with heather!"

A Recollection of German Power

Away to west or armies prances,
All gold in victory,
As from the sky, our bomber lanced,
Maneuvering fearfully

Oh, never wider marching-space
With German oaths so thrilled!
So confident the Fuehrer's face,
And with such triumph filled.

For the Deutsch domain worked like
a clock;
Brave hearts were in Prussia,
When Hitler cried: "Wehrmacht!
Fill my arms with Russia!"

This should, of course, go in TAKE-OFF!, but since Raym and Larry are on such good terms it matters not how strait the gate, or something.

My apologies to all good men who expected me to mention their ef-

Saving...

Raymutterings on the March Mailing * * * 25 race if I remember my mythology--I used to be quite a fiend on mythology.... "Fantastic" seems to convey an impression of hedonism to my mind, and the images are not as definite as they could be. James Russell Gray's sonner, "They Wait Outside," is distinctly a Lovecraftian epic, and compares favorable with the old master, but I prefer his "Reflections." "Headless Horseman" is quite good for someone who is a "casual" poet, and the other stuff is so-so. FLEETING MOMENTS: I feel quite sure that the ration of poets per number of persons is much higher in fandom that in the outside world. Look at the fans who can turn out good verse: Lowndes, Eastman, Duane, Rimel, Farsaci... and the numerous fans who are fair, at the game: Chauvenet, Jenkins, Warner, Evans, Kinge.... need I go on? There are numerous artists in fandom; almost every fan is agile with a drawing pencil, and everybody is able to write plausibly and logically except Ludowitz. I'm surprised we don't burst with concet. (In the first classification above I should have included Youd and Singleton, but this isn't an attempt to index all of fandom's poetic genuises.) Noble sirs, I call your attention to Comrade Farsaci's rare lyric gift. His polished, smooth style is a rarity in these days of birthday ditties and other assinine forms of commercialized verse. I believe Farsaci is going places. His five best poems are: "A Memory of Wuthering Heights," "Star-Maiden" (first stanza of which is omitted here, but may be found in GOLDEN ATOM #10), "Across the Timeless Years," "Rapture," and "Swimer's Delight." I have sent Larry a detailed critique, but have reason to believe that it never reached him, since he has not yet replied (4-25). I place his "Memory of Wuthering Heights" first because it is just the clear, simple type of lyric that lives in English poetry. The mood it expresses is sustained and in keeping with the lilting meter; it is concise and easy to remember, and it possesses and admirable air of finish and unity of tone. I could not refrain from writing a parody; I invite you to cmapre the original and the satire below: A Memory of Wuthering Heights Away to west the heather dancer, All-golden in the sun, As from the sky, the merry wind Enriched all with its fun. Oh, never bluer laughing space Nor air with life so thrilled Oh, never gladder two wild hears, Nor with such mad love filled. For the world was wide with brim- ming joy; True hears were together, When Cathy cried: "Hearhcliff, Fill my arms with heather!" A Recollection of German Power Away to west or armies prances, All gold in victory, As from the sky, our bomber lanced, Maneuvering fearfully Oh, never wider marching-space With German oaths so thrilled! So confident the Fuehrer's face, And with such triumph filled. For the Deutsch domain worked like a clock; Brave hearts were in Prussia, When Hitler cried: "Wehrmacht! Fill my arms with Russia!" This should, of course, go in TAKE-OFF!, but since Raym and Larry are on such good terms it matters not how strait the gate, or something. My apologies to all good men who expected me to mention their ef-