A NEW HAMPSHIRE SCANDAL:

State poem proposal sparks controversy (ANNE SAUNDERS, January 2, 2003, Manchester Union Leader)

A year and a half ago, [Arizona] Gray sent his poem to state Sen. Ted Gatsas with the suggestion that legislation be introduced to make it the state poem.

Shortly thereafter, terrorist attacks on Sept. 11 diverted everyone's attention and the idea fell by the wayside.

Gray sent Gatsas another copy a few months ago, and Gatsas announced his intention to propose that the poem be adopted by the Legislature as the state poem.

The announcement touched off a controversy as others with an interest in literature weighed in on the matter, including the well-known poet and author Donald Hall. Hall was quoted as saying a state poem should be written by a first-rate poet.

Gray is now calling for a public apology from Hall, saying Hall has no business suggesting Gray is anything less than a first-rate poet.

This is what passes for a raging controversy here in the Granite State. NHPR devoted an hour to it this morning. Here's the best poem suggested by the callers:

October (Robert Frost)

O hushed October morning mild,
Thy leaves have ripened to the fall;
Tomorrow's wind, if it be wild,
Should waste them all.
The crows above the forest call;
Tomorrow they may form and go,
O hushed October morning mild,
Begin the hours of this day slow.
Make the day seem to us less brief.
Hearts not averse to being beguiled,
Beguile us in the way you know.
Release one leaf at break of day;
At noon release another leaf;
One from our trees, one far away.
Retard the sun with gentle mist;
Enchant the land with amethyst.
Slow, Slow!
For the grapes' sake, if they were all,
Whose leaves already are burnt with frost,
Whose clustered fruit must else be lost -
For the grapes' sake along the wall.

MORE:
New Hampshire poem: Whose should it be? Which one? (Manchester Union Leader, December 22, 2002)
State debates suitable state poem (AP, January 8, 2003)

Posted by Orrin Judd at January 8, 2003 9:09 PM