Kenneth Slessor

thumb|Kenneth Slessor, 1949 Kenneth Adolphe Slessor OBE (27 March 1901 – 30 June 1971) was an Australian poet, journalist and official war correspondent in World War II. He was one of Australia's leading poets, notable particularly for the absorption of modernist influences into Australian poetry. The Kenneth Slessor Prize for Poetry is named after him. Quotes How many mariners had made that choicePaused on the brink of mystery! ‘Choose now!’The winds roared, blowing home, blowing home,Over the Coral Sea. ‘Choose now!’ the tradesCried once to Tasman, throwing him for choiceTheir teeth or shoulders, and the Dutchman choseThe wind’s way, turning north. ‘Choose, Bougainville!’The wind cried once, and Bougainville had heardThe voice of God, calling him prudentlyOut of the dead lee shore, and chose the north,The wind’s way. So, too, Cook made choice,Over the brink, into the devil’s mouth,With four months’ food, and sailors wild with dreamsOf English beer, the smoking barns of home.So Cook made choice, so Cook sailed westabout,So men write poems in Australia. "Five Visions of Captain Cook" (1931), I External links Category:1901 births Category:1971 deaths Category:Journalists from New South Wales Category:Poets from Australia