DIY History | Transcribe | Hevelin Fanzines | Wavelength, v. 1, issue 3, Fall 1941

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Wavelength, v. 1, issue 3, Fall 1941

31858063099622_004

"Zimbabwe's palace flares ablaze
For a great king who fears to dream..."

and the image called up is a splendid one. To return to Damon Knight, he also has an exceptionally good sonnet, "We Are the Drowned Dead", ( A 1:4 ) where the lament for 
             ".....Our bones, our flesh, that knew
            Tumultuous fear, delirious delight..." 
is not without effect
   Those who have attempted what may more properly be called "science fiction poetry" have in general found the going tough. Dale Tarr is perhaps the leading exponent of this field of versification and must certainly be credited with some successes. "To a Tramp Space Freighter" ( S 3:2 ) is nicely conceived, as the final lines show: 
             "Ironic thing..some child will play with part of 
                  you,
             His tiny toy a space ship, bright and new."

   Tarr's "Prisoner's Planet" ( P 1:5 ) is not without appeal, but in general Tarr's poems are somewhat lacking in the poetic or aesthetic values mentioned above. It must be admitted that his competitors in the field of "science fiction poetry" have not been generally more successful. Art Widner ( "Magnificent Mite" - S 2:3 ), Harry Warner ( "Music of the Spheres" - A 1:3 ) and Vincent manning ( "There Will Come a Day" P 1:2 ) are among those who have tried their hands in this line with indifferent success, in spite of some passable imagery in Warner's poem, and a happy thought of Manning's: 

             "Ask for a star, and it shall descend"
which I like. 
   If we return to consider those poets who have not been particularly concerned with forging a connection between their poems and science fiction themes, it is immediately possible to recognize five who stand out a good distance from the field. C. S. Youd, of England, has written much poetry of a general romantic and lyric trend; six of his poems have appeared in "Spaceways" and eight others in "Nepenthe." I like especially, "Song of the Gods"
            "Singing their song of triumph where the winds of evening blow",
"Dreamer Five",
            "Here was a warrior who fought in vain
            But found defeat was kind, and death was ruth."
"Rain", with its simple, effective opening lines,
            "When the rain has gone behind the western hills
            And the glow sun looks round before departing..."
And "Dreamer Three" and a line I will long remember,   
            "I may not rest when winds are in the leaves."

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"Zimbabwe's palace flares ablaze For a great king who fears to dream..." and the image called up is a splendid one. To return to Damon Knight, he also has an exceptionally good sonnet, "We Are the Drowned Dead", ( A 1:4 ) where the lament for ".....Our bones, our flesh, that knew Tumultuous fear, delirious delight..." is not without effect Those who have attempted what may more properly be called "science fiction poetry" have in general found the going tough. Dale Tarr is perhaps the leading exponent of this field of versification and must certainly be credited with some successes. "To a Tramp Space Freighter" ( S 3:2 ) is nicely conceived, as the final lines show: "Ironic thing..some child will play with part of you, His tiny toy a space ship, bright and new." Tarr's "Prisoner's Planet" ( P 1:5 ) is not without appeal, but in general Tarr's poems are somewhat lacking in the poetic or aesthetic values mentioned above. It must be admitted that his competitors in the field of "science fiction poetry" have not been generally more successful. Art Widner ( "Magnificent Mite" - S 2:3 ), Harry Warner ( "Music of the Spheres" - A 1:3 ) and Vincent manning ( "There Will Come a Day" P 1:2 ) are among those who have tried their hands in this line with indifferent success, in spite of some passable imagery in Warner's poem, and a happy thought of Manning's: "Ask for a star, and it shall descend" which I like. If we return to consider those poets who have not been particularly concerned with forging a connection between their poems and science fiction themes, it is immediately possible to recognize five who stand out a good distance from the field. C. S. Youd, of England, has written much poetry of a general romantic and lyric trend; six of his poems have appeared in "Spaceways" and eight others in "Nepenthe." I like especially, "Song of the Gods" "Singing their song of triumph where the winds of evening blow", "Dreamer Five", "Here was a warrior who fought in vain But found defeat was kind, and death was ruth." "Rain", with its simple, effective opening lines, "When the rain has gone behind the western hills And the glow sun looks round before departing..." And "Dreamer Three" and a line I will long remember, "I may not rest when winds are in the leaves."