15 MARCH 1940, Page 18

TO CRITICS

Carrics, you who praise, poets, Critics, you who damn poets faintly, Critics, you who earn your livings, Critics, you who by being critics Are damned eternally :

Critics, you who eke beauties, Critics, you who confess faults, Critics, you the impersonal ; Critics, you who by not being: poets

Are critics eternally : Critics, you who rake the tomes, Critics, you who fail to rake them, Critics, you who consult the oracles, Critics, you who espouse authority Are scholars eternally.

Critics, you who express hopes, Critics, you of promissory notes, Critics, you of the a priori view, Critics, you who criticise the critics Are criticised eternally.

The poet is his quick critic, The rest is social pleasantry ; Sometimes not even decency. When I find a critic who loves, I will love him eternally.

RICHARD EBERHART.