Scrutable Poetry Corner: "Glimpses of the Magnificent"

In the March 2, 1929 issue of The New Yorker, Don Muir Strouse provided some nice capsule sketches of the prominent band leaders in town. These tell you more about the people than long-winded reviews ever would.

TED LEWIS

Pan in a top hat
Shrieks defiance
To the world
On a laughing clarinet.

PAUL WHITEMAN

A corpulent
Overgrown cherub
Dangles a little stick
Foolishly
To the rhythm
Of the perfect jazz band.

VINCENT LOPEZ

Unction oozing
From an animated
Dress suit
That reeks
With smugness
And makes crackling sounds.

ROGER WOLFE KAHN

The Crown Prince
Rebels from
Tradition
And leads
The insurgents
Bravely.

THE WARINGS

Perennial sophomores
From Altoona
Cashing in grandly
On a couple
Of rah rahs.

PS: Like many of the people whose poetry appeared in the early New Yorker, Don Muir Strouse has been completely forgotten. These band leaders, however, are still widely considered to be some of the best.