The true first edition of "Liverpool", later titled "Masque of Liverpool" by John Masefield. The poem was specially written for the occasion of the "hallowing of the Kinship of Liverpool with the Sea" on February 9, 1930 and was published in the program on pages 15 through 23. Music was composed for it by Martin Shaw and was sung by the Liverpool Cathedral Church of Christ choir.
On November 3, 1930, the verses were published by William Heinemann, Ltd. in "The Wanderer of Liverpool".
The year he was appointed Poet Laureate, John Masefield wrote the poem "Masque of Liverpool" whose stirring opening lines read: "I AM the English sea-queen, I am she who made the English wealthy by the sea.." Having been sent to join the training ship HSM Conway as a lad of 13, Masefield would often draw inspiration from the sea.
RARE. Not in the Handley-Taylor bibliography of Masefield. WorldCat locates only 2 copies. Good .
Keywords: LITERATURE; POETRY; JOHN MASEFIELD; FIRST EDITION; TRUE 1ST; FIRST APPEARANCE; 1ST EDITION; LIVERPOOL; MASQUE OF LIVERPOOL; TWENTIETH CENTURY; KINSHIP WITH THE SEA; LIVERPOOL CATHEDRAL; FORM AND ORDER; SERVICE; CEREMONIES; THE RIGHT REVEREND ALBERT AUGUST