The Orchard and Other Poems. By Francis Andrews. (Union of
Post Office Workers. 2S.) MR. FRANCIS ANDREWS, who incidentally is Editor of The Post, reveals himself in this volume (proceeds from which are in aid of the Second Post Office Relief Fund) as a true poet. He is tradi- tional in form, and his theme is usually nature and the countryman— he himself being a Cotswold man. He is not likely, therefore, to attract much attention in circles where it .is still only fashionable to polemicise about politics or psychology ; and those who mistake novelty for originality are unlikely to discover that in spite of his traditionalism Mr. Andrews writes with the freshness of epithet and the sincerity of rhythm which are the marks distinguishing 1 real poet from a poetaster, or a literary dilettante. Such a poem as "The Stallion" bears comparison with some famous lines of G. M Hopkins, and Mr. Andrews can write on ordinary matters such as smells ("Nostrils ") or a village idiot, "Loony John," without being either banal or sentimental.
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