. . . Poetry Notes

Spring 2012 Volume 3, Issue 3

ISSN 1179-7681 Quarterly Newsletter of PANZA

Caddick as ‘declaiming passionate Inside this Issue Welcome verses’ and ‘ignoring his wound’ fresh from the trenches. Caddick who had Hello and welcome to issue 11 of returned from the First World War and Welcome Poetry Notes, the newsletter of PANZA, by then become a teacher at Wellington 1 the newly formed Poetry Archive of College was also a former student at Mark Pirie on The Old Clay Aotearoa. Victoria University College. It was at Patch (Victoria College) Poetry Notes will be published quarterly Victoria that Caddick wrote verses, and will include information about anthology edited and contributed to The Spike (the goings on at the Archive, articles on student magazine) and appeared in the historical New Zealand poets of interest, Classic New Zealand influential anthology of verse and song, poetry by Rev. J H Haslam occasional poems by invited poets and a The Old Clay Patch, edited by fellow 5 record of recently received donations to undergrad students, F A de la Mare and the Archive. S Eichelbaum. Cricket poetry references New publication of Robert The newsletter will be available for free J Pope’s poetry abound within the pages of this book. 6 download from the Poetry Archive’s The Old Clay Patch contained a website: significant amount of university Comment on Louis capping, extravaganza and sporting 7 Johnson by http://poetryarchivenz.wordpress.com songs as well as verse. My cricket poetry anthology, A Tingling Catch, Comment on Tiki Cootes took its title from a line by one of the Mark Pirie on The Old Victoria songwriters of the period, 9 Seaforth Simpson Mackenzie, a future Clay Patch (Victoria lawyer: ‘For the wicket true, and the New publication by College) anthology field in fettle, / and the man who’s safe 10 PANZA member for a tingling catch’ (‘Sports Chorus’, 1907). Eichelbaum, de la Mare, Mackenzie, Donate to PANZA through Wellington poet, publisher and cricket A F T Chorlton and others like women PayPal writer Mark Pirie discusses the poets Erica R Fell (later Erica R influential Victoria College anthology Wilson), Esma North (a future The Old Clay Patch that ran in to Recently received Headmistress at Wellington Girls’ several editions up till 1949. donations College), Mary E Heath (later Mrs

Ballantyne) and Marjory L Nicholls Recently, I was researching New About the Poetry Archive (later Marjory L Hannah who died early Zealand poet, teacher and cricketer, in a bus stop accident) formed a literary A E Caddick. He was the subject of a group at Victoria in the early 1900s.1 cricket-related poem by one of The older Hubert Church2 (from PANZA Caddick’s students at Wellington via Oxford, England) was PO Box 6637 College, the late poet and chemist also part of this group, but he was not a Marion Square Ronald B Castle. sportsman. He suffered a blow to the Wellington 6141 That particular poem references Castle’s head from a cricket ball at the age of 12. student days and describes Master

...... Spring 2012 Chorlton later described the group’s Class for St James. In annual inter- and ethics in industry. Eichelbaum ‘halcyon days’ as forming a pre-World college cricket matches, Caddick’s (d. 1952) after a brief stint as assistant War I ‘Golden Age’ replete with Victoria team came up against Sir to a Professor in English at Victoria was alluring barmaids and set against the Arthur Donnelly’s Canterbury College admitted as a barrister and solicitor in backdrop of the developing city of team. Caddick often bowled, and in the 1912 but did not practice, preferring to Wellington: 1913 match (after Donnelly was well set sit instead after war ended on the and scoring quickly) had him reaching Victoria University College Council for It was all different in 1907; the city forward, only to tickle one behind into 29 years and also on the Senate of the growing and growing fast, electric the gloves of the keeper, Howe; out for University of New Zealand for 10 years. trams, wood-paved streets, a new 38. Chorlton perhaps the least Wellington College awarded the Town Hall, and new buildings going significant of the four, in sporting terms, ‘S Eichelbaum English Prize’ in the up everywhere, including Victoria had a rugby and cricket interest; he may 1930s. At the time of his death, College on its “old clay patch”, where have played both games as a young he was New Zealand director for the “top floor” was still the “hop man. Chorlton, a classical scholar, was a S Oppenheimer and Company, New floor”, and The Spike flourishing, ‘scion of a wealthy Manchester family York - the sausage casing manufacturers. with contributions in prose and verse steeped in the Liberal tradition’. He Eichelbaum also worked with German that are still worth reading. arrived from overseas in 1901 finding refugees in the 1930s and 1940s. work as a farmhand then teacher after The best of their contributions to The being unable to complete his degree at Spike3 (a group-initiated literary outlet Oxford for family reasons. and inclusively-minded student paper) After Victoria, de la Mare (d. 1960) and which began in 1902 came to form The Mackenzie (d. 1955, , Old Clay Patch in 1910 - an anthology ) became lawyers. which had a second edition in 1920 and a third edition in 1949 mainly to commemorate respectively the end of the First World War and the Second World War. The 1949 edition included ’40s student-poets ,

W H Oliver, Lorna Clendon, Hubert Photo: S Eichelbaum, 1929 Witheford and Pat Wilson. by S P Andrew, Papers Past Little known, however, is that editors de la Mare and Eichelbaum and Caddick (d. 1960) became a teacher, contributors Caddick and Chorlton were author of a secondary school English also keen sportsmen as well as scholars. text, Schoolmaster and Headmaster I’ve researched their names and found Photo: F A de la Mare, The Spike Jubilee number, from NZ Electronic Text Centre (West High, Christchurch much of sporting interest in their lives. Boys’ High). Chorlton (d. 1963), not Perhaps de la Mare is the most De la Mare, who became an officer 2nd finishing his degree, became a journalist significant of the four. De la Mare was a Lieutenant, continued to publish editing for the Evening Post from 1907, schoolboy athletics champion, and at a troopship journal while at war. working with the like-minded literary Victoria was a runner, cricketer, Entitled The Waitemata Wobbler (and and sport-orientated C A Marris (who swimmer, rugby footballer and tennis co-edited with poet Dick Harris and left briefly for The Sun and also edited player. He represented New Zealand H E M Rowland), it was printed in The Referee but rejoined The Post till Universities at tennis in the doubles and Capetown and included prose and verse. his retirement in 1945). combined championship in 1906 and at It was noted in The Observer (9 June rugby vs. in 1908. 1917) for its ‘very special excellence’. Eichelbaum was born in San Francisco His interests included the Howard and was educated at Wellington League for Penal Reform (along with College. While at Victoria, he was a poet Blanche Baughan and others) and tennis and hockey player and played the Save the Children Fund. Among his cricket for the Wellesley Club. Caddick other publications were a privately (educated at Mt Cook Boys’ School and printed tribute to G B Lancaster, the Wellington College) was a member of popular colonial fiction writer, and legal the Victoria Debating Society. He also publications on matters such as played rugby and tennis at Victoria, gambling, prison reform, academic competed in swimming, and was a freedom (which included a foreword by cricketing enthusiast for the First XI. He Photo: A E Caddick, 1940 from his former Professor G W von Zedlitz) had earlier played Junior rugby: 4th The Evening Post, Papers Past

2 ...... Poetry Archive This quartet of poet-cricketers publication was a war poem, ‘Reverie’, Where are the bruised limbs (Eichelbaum, de la Mare, Chorlton and in the 1920 and 1949 editions of The Once black and blue with standing at Caddick) kept up their cricket interest. Old Clay Patch, and I’ve not found the wicket; Caddick played cricket for the Victoria cricket verses by him, although he is What is the cloud that dims University College Cricket Club for said to have contributed comic sporting His fame at cricket? many years (1908-mid 1920s) and was a verse to NZ Truth in the 1920s. Niel member of the Schoolmasters’ Sports Wright has also found a possible poem Why is he never seen Club. He became a stalwart for the translation by Caddick in The Spike A footballer at Miramar, together Victoria club, also a team selector and signed ‘C’. De la Mare does not write With wearers of the green, club captain and was a life member in about cricket in the songs I’ve seen by Chasing the leather? 1922. Caddick while at Wellington him. College also coached the rugby team, Here are Chorlton’s and Eichelbaum’s Say why the fair youth shirks which was undefeated during his time cricket-related verses; neither are His round of manly sport, and what his as coach. Eichelbaum, after his playing autobiographical, both are satirical. A plea is, days were over, became a patron for reviewer in The Evening Post noted Who, like Achilles, lurks both the Victoria tennis and cricket Chorlton’s satire after Horace when it With what Briseis. clubs for many years. (His father Max appeared first in The Spike in 1908: Eichelbaum and the Wellington College ‘Mr. A. Chorlton has a paraphrase, Chloe, you are to blame, Headmaster and cricketer J P Firth were “Antipodean Horace,” of the eighth ode That Strephon now has lost all zeal also committee members of the Victoria of the first book, wherein he charges a athletic; cricket club in the early 1900s.) De la lady with responsibility for the He owns it to his shame, Mare (seriously wounded at disappearance of Strephon from the Captive pathetic. Passchendaele in the First World War) field of athletics.’ Young Strephon later represented South Auckland at sounds alarmingly similar to de la Mare 1908 cricket, and lived for many years in (tennis, cricket and rugby): Hamilton before retiring to Eastbourne. Eichelbaum, on the other hand, Chorlton (serving in the British army) A F T CHORLTON rediscovers an old sportsman Percy’s must’ve been wounded with de la Mare belt and the sporting memories it as he mentions the ‘great Frank A’ in From Antipodean Horace conjures in his mind: his poem, ‘To a Night Nurse’, while they were both recovering in hospital; Carmen VIII SIEGFRIED EICHELBAUM de la Mare’s poem ‘In a Hospital in France’ (1918) seems to confirm it. Come, Chloe, tell me, pray, To a Recalcitrant Belt Chorlton in post-World War I days By all the gods, why you with too fond became captain and selector of The wooing From your seclusion come, my belt, Evening Post press club in the Walter Young Strephon lead astray And seek your once accustomed Blundell Cup competition in 1923 (he To his undoing. channels, turned in a match-winning performance And feel once more the joy you felt of 5-30 bowling against NZ Truth and Say why he loathes the field, At sight of jersey, shorts, or flannels. 2-2 vs. The Times). He played in earlier Who once of dust and heat was so A belt that once decked Joan or Sue press club matches for them in 1914 enduring, Might like to lie and rest in camphor, against the City Council and the And does to softness yield, But surely that’s a thing that you Wellington Corporation staffs. Chorlton All sport abjuring. Don’t care a damn for. also kept up his rugby interest as reporter for the rugby matches in the ’Tis said he never tries, Most like your relative afar Evening Post and later published a book In Tennis Tournament ‘neath sun that Who clasps the waist of slim Orion, after his retirement about his memories mellows, You too embraced a shining star, as a young man, The Wandering School: To bear away the prize, Or shall we say Olympic lion, Memories in Prose and Verse (1960). Among his fellows. Who, be the foeman wild or meek, His first publication, however, was a Would, drawing you a little tighter, coffee table motoring book, Motor Why does he fear to plunge Into the middle of next week Pioneers Through the King Country Into the tide, or through what Despatch the blighter. (1913) indicating he was a car aberration, enthusiast, and claiming it was the ‘first Like poison, shun the sponge Remember, those spectator folks, car from Wellington to Auckland’. And embrocation? Who have us always at their mercy, Significantly, Eichelbaum and Chorlton Would greet my usual brilliant strokes also wrote about cricket in their verses. With shouts of joy and “Well played Caddick’s only known poem Percy”.

...... 3 Spring 2012 And if by chance I made a duck, Another aspect of The Old Clay Patch’s Witness, 1908-09, under the pseudonym Then Bertie would explain to Freddy, success is that, as A G Stephens4 of ‘L von Kaulbach’. In a debate against That it was awfully rotten luck, commented in The Evening Post (24 Rev. Ayrton (entitled ‘Is too much time I wasn’t ready. December 1910), it touched a nerve given to sport?’), August once defended with the public being ‘in tune’ with the attention given to sport quoting from Remember too those glorious tries New Zealand life at the turn of the a poem by Norman Gordon, whose Achieved by runs both fleet and dodgy, century. There is much in the book to poem stated that ‘if sport were taken out Which hallowed me within the eyes make it still a lively read today. of life, it was farewell to the Norman Of maidens coy and mothers stodgy! race, and Anglo-Saxon blood’ and How, when the hostile lines I sent (Sources: The Spike; The Old Clay ‘advocated everyone to take an active To taste defeat’s most bitter doses, Patch: A collection of verses written in part in sport, as by so doing the nation You shared, my belt, my subsequent & around Victoria University College would not have much time to indulge in Apotheosis. edited by F A de la Mare and S industrial revolutions’. After voting, Eichelbaum (Wellington: New Zealand August’s argument proved favourable But that was nearly half a score University Press, 1949 3rd ed.); The over Rev. Ayrton’s (Otautau Standard Of limping years agone, old leather, Evening Post obituaries for S and Wallace County Chronicle, 11 May And now they ask us just once more Eichelbaum, F A de la Mare and A F T 1926). To try our old-time luck together. Chorlton; Dominion obituary for A E 2Church (b. , 1857) died in So round you go, we’ll show at least Caddick; The Oxford Companion to NZ Melbourne in 1932. In Wellington, he Our ears aren’t deaf to such entreating. Literature eds. Roger Robinson and worked in the Treasury for 33 years. He What’s this? Your ends, you graceless Nelson Wattie (Auckland: Oxford held a reputation as a poet until the beast, University Press, 1998); Papers Past 1950s (an article in the New Zealand Refuse the meeting! (National Library of NZ’s digital Listener, 1956, praises his poetry). A archive) and the National Library of NZ number of his poetry volumes were 1912 catalogue; The Wandering School: printed and his poems were Memories in Prose and Verse by A F T anthologised in national anthologies, It’s now a hundred years since Chorlton (Wellington: Harry H Tombs including Harvey McQueen’s more Eichelbaum’s satire was written and Ltd, 1960); and An Account of the recent colonial verse anthology, The more than a hundred years since the first Comic Poet A F T Chorlton and Notes New Place (1993). After his death, his publication of The Old Clay Patch; on Alfred Edward Caddick, 1889-1960, name continues to live on with the together these four young sportsmen as poet and Headmaster in Aotearoa by annual Hubert Church Fiction Award and scholars (Caddick, Chorlton, de la F W N (Niel) Wright (both Wellington: for best first book. Mare, Eichelbaum) and Mackenzie, Cultural and Political Booklets, 1998 3The Spike’s aims were: ‘Firstly, to Nicholls and others have all made a and 2001)) make The Spike an official record of the lasting contribution to New Zealand doings of the college and of all the clubs literature and culture. In particular, as Notes and institutions in connection with it. one reviewer of The Old Clay Patch 1The group at Victoria is not unique. In Secondly, to bring out the dormant pointed out in the Marlborough a national sense, there were other young talent, perhaps even genius, in both art Express, 6 December 1910: ‘Victoria poets and contemporaries with like- and literature that cannot help but exist College owes a deep debt of gratitude to minded sport and literary values all and too often lie hidden amongst two Messrs de la Mare and Eichelbaum’. writing in similar forms to The Spike hundred University students. In so An article giving an overview of the group. Others who shared similarities doing it is our ambition to attain as high group’s achievements in The Evening with the Spike group include: Ernest L a standard of literary excellence as Post (17 April 1924) is similarly Eyre, from Auckland, a rugby player possible. Thirdly, and perhaps our complimentary calling The Spike ‘a and wandering bard, who wrote lively chiefest ideal, is to strengthen the bonds precocious youngster from the start’ and satire and popular ballads in The Weekly of union and good fellowship amongst noting that News (Auckland) and other papers; us, to help us to take more interest in the Arnold Wall in Christchurch, author of social life of the college and our fellow- the magazine brought to light much the famous cricket poem ‘A Time Will students, to foster that brotherly that would otherwise have been Come’ along with rugby poems; comradeship which, to our mind, is the hidden. In New Zealand, there is little cricketer W H Winsor in , chief charm of studentdom.’ The first scope for the publication of verse newly arrived from Tasmania, whose issue appeared with these intentions in except by the volume. The pages of only known poem is ‘A Cricketer’s June 1902, edited by H Ostler and The Spike were open to budding Lament’ (1902); and S G August in assisted by Fanny L Smith and F A de la versifiers, and a glance through The Invercargill, busily trying his hand (like Mare. H Ostler became a lawyer and Old Clay Patch shows the influence the Spike group) at French forms: Fanny L Smith the chief Spike prose of the magazine has been triolets, ballades, villanelles, rondels, writer whose only book, The Streets of considerable. roundels and rondeaus in the My City, ran in to several reprint

4 ...... Poetry Archive editions under her new name of Fanny L Mackenzie (with rugby and fishing His other publications include Irvine-Smith. De la Mare is noted in poems) and Church are also in contributing Westland Methodist The Evening Post (17 April 1924) as the Alexander and Currie’s New Zealand Church history material by the Rev. G S chief encourager of Mackenzie (who Verse (1906 and 2nd edition 1926 as A Harper (1840-1911) to the Wesley won the Macmillan-Brown Memorial Treasury of New Zealand Verse). Erica Church History Society as well as Prize in 1903 for his Kipling-inspired R Wilson, Eileen Duggan and Quentin editing Harper’s Gold Diggings and the ‘Empire’ sequence). Other members of Pope appear in the 1926 edition too. Gospel: The Westland Diary of the Rev. the original Spike group (1902-15) 4A G Stephens (1866-1933) was an G. S. Harper, 1865-66. included: rugby player, debater and Australian literary critic, poet and The British Library has made available swimmer F G Hall-Jones, a future editor. He edited The Red Page for The his sole collection, Scenes in Southland, Invercargill Rotarian, author and Bulletin in Sydney from the 1880s and as a download on Apple iTunes. historian; Ms Fannie Hall-Jones (who helped to print in book form New In 2012, New Zealand poet, critic and wrote the witty ‘Eich and I’ about her Zealand/Australian poets, including editor, Mark Pirie wrote on Haslam’s friendship with Eichelbaum); H L Hubert Church and Arthur H Adams. cricket sonnet ‘Ambition’ (which Fowler; C H Taylor; future solicitor and He was one of the advisers to Alexander discusses Sir Jack Hobbs) for the amateur golfer Philip Grey; athlete, and Currie’s New Zealand Verse Tingling Catch weblog. cricketer, and all-round sportsman, A H anthology. From 1907, he became a Bogle, a future surveyor/town-planner; freelance writer and book critic for The Poems by Rev. J H Haslam G R Hutcheson; Nena M Newell (later Evening Post working with Chorlton on Nena M Daniel); cricketer V B Willis, their literary staff. BLUFF HILL Victoria club delegate to and later secretary and life member of the In nearer focus through the shimmering Wellington Cricket Association; haze, sportsman and chess player G M Classic New Zealand And like unto a blunted, spreading cone, (George Max) Cleghorn, author of poetry Not unmajestical, albeit, lone, Lawn Tennis (1935); and barrister G H The granite hill attracts my wandering Nicholls, brother of Marjory. Erica R gaze Fell married Colonel Wilson after This issue’s classic New Zealand poetry Athwart the Estuary on sunny days. World War I. She was also part of a is by the Rev. J H (Harry) Haslam. Secure upon its ancient bed of stone, club called ‘The Readers’ (1912-17) Haslam (13 July 1874-19 October 1969) It sits, a solid royalty upon its throne, instructed by Mr H E Nicholls was a New Zealand Methodist Church O’erlooking a vast realm of waterways. (Marjory’s father), who met to read Minister, poet, editor and Wesley At noon, when air is calm and sky is drama in Kelburn. Mr Nicholls, a Church historian. clear, harbour board secretary, was an actor Haslam wrote verse from a young age. What joy to stand upon the city pier, with the Wellington Amateur Dramatic He became a member of the Wesleyan And see that distant, broad reflection Club (1880-90), Wellington Dramatic Literary and Debating Society in the gleam Students (1904-14) and the Wellington early-mid 1890s, did acting for them, Within the gentle stillness of the stream, Shakespeare Club (1903-13). The Spike and edited their journal, which also What time the full tide shines like group has many close connections, not printed some of his early poems. burnished steel, just in their friendships and family In 1903, his poem ‘A Bike Race’ Unruffled by the ripple of a keel. linkages, but also in allusions to each appeared in the Canterbury College other in their writings. Eichelbaum also Review while he was living there. wrote the foreword to Marjory Nicholls’ One book of his poetry, Scenes in AWARUA BAY first collection, A Venture in Verse Southland, appeared in London (1917). After Victoria, very few of the published by The Epworth Press in To B. Spike group continued with their verse. 1926. (This volume collects much of his A further generation who emerged in poetry dating back to the 1890s.) Whene’er I view from out your bridal Spike after World War I included: the He is chiefly a sonneteer working over home noted J C Beaglehole, Mary E spiritual themes and the universal The wide expanse of Awarua Bay, Pumphrey, Eileen Duggan, Edith R subjects of love and death. Other topics I think of my departed friend, and say: Davies, W E Leicester and Quentin include war and literature, and his book This view he loved, here from the ocean Pope, later editor of Kowhai Gold contains a section of lighter verse foam (1930). Kowhai Gold includes Pope’s possibly written in his younger years. Upon the beach below, unto the Dome fellow Spike contributors Mary E Heath, Some poems certainly date back to his Among the distant hills, with all the Marjory L Nicholls, Seaforth student years in Auckland. Several play Mackenzie, Mary E Pumphrey, J C sonnets relate to the death of a close Of light and shade revealed throughout Beaglehole, Eileen Duggan, Hubert friend before 1926. the day, Church as well as Pope himself. When all is clear as far as eye can roam.

...... 5 Spring 2012 I love it, too, the stretch of water wide Proud name would grow beyond all That shimmers in the light of sun and questioning. New publication of moon, Robert J Pope’s poetry And varies with the movement of the What deep emotion marked the end of tide; strain, But most, the soft light of late afternoon When on your sight the ‘Long White Upon those far-off hills when purple- Cloud’ arose, dyed, Great Aotea Roa, predestinate refrain Like that we watched together once in Of glorious song! At last the happy June. close Of your high hazard o’er the unventured main THE SEA SHELL Drew near, and promised merited repose. To M. S.

This shell you brought from some A THUNDERSTORM AT NIGHT Papuan strand And gave me, when I hold against my How weird the night, as fiercely roars ear, the gale Speaks to me of its far-off home. I hear O’er hill and plain, through darkness The moaning of the waves upon the pitchy black. PANZA member Mark Pirie has sand, The rain in torrents falls from out the recently finished a new selection of Of aerial currents to fair breezes fanned; wrack, early NZ poet Robert J Pope’s poetry And through these soughings rises faint, With showers at intervals of driving that he began in 2010. but clear, hail. The book will be released November- The murmur of that dusky life so dear And through the crevices the mournful December by HeadworX. This from the To you, who gave good years to wail blurb: Trobriand. Of wind resounds, as though some soul its track Robert J Pope (1865-1949) was a ’Tis but a fancy. Yet I would some shell Had lost, and cried for guidance back, well-known Wellington poet, cricketer E’en murmuring echo from that other Fearful of being abandoned to its bale. and songwriter in his day – and till the shore Then suddenly, a startling, blinding end of the 1940s he held a reputation Whence thou art gone, to utterance flash as a national songwriter for his school could compel, Lights up the firmament, soon followed song ‘New Zealand, My Homeland’ – And break the silence of bereavement by but today, his work is little known and sore, The rumbling growl of thunder peal. out of print. And all its loneliness and doubt dispel; Boom! Crash! Pope’s poetry, lyrically gifted, showed Then Death had lost its sting for The air is rent in shreds from earth to musical flair and easy felicity of evermore. sky. rhyme. He began writing and So through the night the Titans’ publishing in earnest during the cannonade Edwardian era, and his work notably THE COMING OF THE MAORI Roars on, and but with morning light is covers the two world wars and the stayed. national politics of the period, 1902- (In the Auckland Art Gallery) 1944. (Sonnets from Scenes in Southland, His most interesting work concerns Intrepid navigators, voyaging published by The Epworth Press, sporting verse on the 1924/25 All Across uncharted seas in frail canoes, London, England, 1926) Blacks “Invincibles” tour of Great Doubtless some fear assailed that you Britain and France and suburban might lose satires on Wellington city-life. Pope Your way upon the trackless deep, nor was a leading light verse parodist of bring his day, publishing mainly in the Free Your antique vessels to safe harbouring Lance and The Evening Post, and was In blissful southern isles, where you a precursor to the ‘Wellington group’ would choose of the 1950s. To make your home, and build a nation This selection gives a substantial whose picture of the man and his times and restores a significant New Zealand 6 ...... Poetry Archive poet. Previously uncollected and and I Louis Johnson throughout the 1950s and unpublished poems and music scores beyond came under a tremendous accompany selections from Pope’s I have two copies of the booklet Louis amount of criticism, to which I added two published books. An appendix Johnson: Two Poems. The my bit, and he was clearly under great includes a selection of his prose bibliographies give the date of pressure, which helps to explain some writings, including his Wellington publication as 1956. of his critical stances. club cricket essay and sporting Of my copies, one has an inscription But between 1954 and 1957 it is ‘contorts and retorts’. “For Niel Wright Louis Johnson/87.” probably fair to say that there was a The other has my pencilled annotation considerable shift in Louis Johnson’s “This selection of Robert J Pope not “Nothing of interest 28.8.61,” when I approach to poetry underway if not only ‘gives a substantial picture of the was surveying New Zealand poetry for complete. It may be that my criticism in man and his times’, it gives a certain interests I had at the time. This 1954 played a part in shifting Louis significant New Zealand poet the copy which I bought for 4/6 perhaps Johnson to a different poetic approach recognition he should have always first hand was also signed by the author and level of application. had.” - Alistair Paterson, Editor of “Louis Johnson 1955.” In my autosatire A Visit to the Poetry NZ. The booklet Louis Johnson: Two Poems Unexpected Isles written in 1962 but not contains no date of publication, but the published till 1975, I twice refer to Title: King Willow: Selected Poems Foreword is dated “Wellington. August Louis Johnson as Cherry in the Author: Robert J Pope 1955” and it might be said that the following excerpts. signature “Louis Johnson 1955” Lemon [James K Baxter] speaks of ISBN: 978-0-473-22791-3 indicates that the booklet was in “Knowing my houses stand on piles / Price: $30.00 Johnson’s hands in 1955, making that As treacherous as Cherry’s smiles. He Extent: 192 pages the true date of publication. saw the axe; and like a friend / Preferred Format: 148mmx210mm I have written about the booklet Louis to leave me than to shend. I do not Publication: November 2012 Johnson: Two Poems at some length blame him…” and later Lemon is Publisher: HeadworX Publishers elsewhere and I don’t repeat any of that described thus. “Particularly he aped the here. kind / His friend Cherry had first The booklet runs for 16 pages A4, with defined.” Comment on Louis a printed light card grey cover, centre The reference to Cherry’s smiles as stapled. In fact I see it as a booklet treacherous may seem unkind, but the Johnson and Robert J attractive in design and actually a good acknowledgement is made to Cherry for Pope example of publications appropriate for his indisputable affability and poetry in Aotearoa 2008 going forward. generosity. It has always been easy for critics to Cherry “preferred to leave” Wellington LOUIS JOHNSON, ROBERT J find grounds to criticise Louis for Hastings and never lived in the same POPE AND I IN 1954 by Niel Wright Johnson’s work as a poet in negative locality as Baxter again. terms. I have done so in various terms Finally I credit Cherry with first that I need not repeat here, starting from defining the social poetry which Baxter In 1943 when I was 10, I had access to a 1954, 58 years ago. also produced in quantity, at least such set of New Zealand School Journals for I reproduce hereafter a section on Louis social poetry as is characteristic of several years before 1940. What took Johnson from my 2004 unpublished Cherry himself. my interest was the poetry, which in manuscript MS 1291 Some Notes to NZ But the point I need to make is in fact reflected late Victorian, Edwardian Listener 1953-1954 a cultural memoir contrast to the hostility and contempt I and Georgian tastes, such as we see in for 1954. heap on Curnow (Apple), Brasch Robert J Pope’s poetry. I went on to But in fairness to myself as well as (Quince) and Baxter in A Visit to the compile a bulky scrapbook of such Louis Johnson I make the following Unexpected Isles in fact no literary poetry. points in 2012. criticism is directed at Cherry simply In 1954 literary intellectuals of my age You can say my criticism of Louis because Louis Johnson had my respect were making their first public Johnson in 1954 was tough on him; he for his literary activism and the statements in national media, including certainly thought so. conceivable merit that a good selection Jeremy Commons, Peter Dronke, C K In 1954, Louis Johnson was 30; I was of his poems might establish as I have Stead and myself, Niel Wright. I report 21 years old. Louis had been around in always suggested. my role in the following essay ‘Louis the Aotearoa literary scene for nine The poet Louis Johnson has many Johnson and I’. At this stage, 1954, years, with three books of poetry claims on public attention as in the past Louis Johnson was still in his late published and since 1951 he was editing now still in 2012. I list them as follows: Georgian phase, but I did not think a prestigious annual anthology of 1/ In his time and ever since he was of Georgian standards were being poetry, New Zealand Poetry Yearbook. New Zealand poets the most extensively maintained...... 7 Spring 2012 published in periodicals outside New A Note on Louis Johnson to be regretted. It indicates a falling Zealand. off. 2/ In his time he was the most popularly I have written at some length on Louis There are some effective ideas in Mr. read contemporary poet in New Johnson in my essay A Reading (In Johnson’s poem; but they don’t come Zealand. Part) of the Poetry of Louis Johnson across very well. Mr. Johnson lacks 3/ He was the most prolific of New (collected in Six Significant Poets of the direction and firmness a Yeats Zealand poets for the 45 years 1945- Aotearoa 1927-1997). He is also could supply. Mr. Johnson begins with 1988. featured in a chapter in my book Blood recollections of geography lessons at 4/ His work as an editor and publisher In Her Cup - a history of the Muse in school and moves on to Tennyson. In of poetry was the most sustained and Aotearoa. There are other short the second verse he might be with significant for poetry in New Zealand passages on him throughout my Gray in the churchyard until he 1950-1988. writings. I have also got other essays in remembers this is the 20th Century. 5/ He took poetry seriously with the manuscript on Louis Johnson, but But the effort is too much and Mr. most respectful attitude among his whether they say much of value may be Johnson collapses: “Houses still grew, contemporaries to the major Romantic open to some doubt. the children / Like cabbages are seen; poets of the early 19th century. Louis Johnson, born 1924, is the oldest / Grandfather’s thoughts are hidden / 6/ In spite of occasional aberrations (as person I write Notes on in this context. Upon the bowling green,” which is for instance with from He owes this distinction to his role at rather weak. Mr. Glover is heard 1956 for a decade or two) he was a the time and to luck. faintly in the third verse, but goes generous and welcoming critic of New Louis Johnson was the most prominent under in an obscure bit about houses Zealand poetry. poet in the country (New Zealand) in and formations, which includes some 7/ In his time Louis Johnson was an the 1950s and beyond, and it is not sort of pun that doesn’t quite come influential leader on the New Zealand surprising therefore that he appeared clear. But Mr. Johnson does his best to poetry scene, both the spokesman of frequently in the NZ Listener with finish up on a happy note. given viewpoints and the target of letters and poems in the main between One might notice that the double use attacks on such viewpoints. 1949 and 1987. of cabbages in two significances is a On these seven counts Louis Johnson is In 1953 and 1954 Louis Johnson was blemish. Also, old-time inversions in certainly overdue for a major engaged in the NZ Listener the last three verses tend to disrupt the reappraisal such as older or near correspondence columns in easy rhythms and suggest lack of contemporaries of his like James K controversies over publications he finesse. Poems of this kind, if they are Baxter, , Kendrick edited: the New Zealand Poetry done at all today, should be done well. Smithyman and have Yearbook and Numbers. Mr. Johnson is writing about a fine, already received in varying degrees. In fact Louis Johnson was clearly one of sunny day. In such circumstances And in fact I began this reconsideration our finest literary editors, and the nobody could be expected to have his of Louis Johnson’s poetry in my 1998 attacks on him which finally in the wits about him. Accordingly, it would booklet A Reading (In Part) of the 1960s were victorious were at bottom hardly be fair to blame Mr. Johnson Poetry of Louis Johnson, reprinted in misguided. for seeming a little bemused. But one Mark Pirie’s broadsheet: new new In fact, remarkable as it may seem, I can can’t help feeling this sort of poem zealand poetry, 2008 – a 20th be seen as having played a leading part bears out Mr. Reid’s contention. anniversary issue since Johnson’s death. in these attacks on Louis Johnson, F. W. N. WRIGHT (Christchurch). My motivation in promoting that 1998 because in the NZ Listener, 29 October essay of mine in 2008 when I had 1954, page 5, there is a letter from As at 2002 I had completely forgotten completed my own poetic magnum opus myself, reading as follows: this letter, which I came upon while The Alexandrians in 2007 has been my chasing up the early publications of consciousness that my way of doing Sir, – One was glad to see Mr. Jeremy Commons for my bibliography things as a poet is not the only way to Johnson’s “Song in the Hutt Valley” of his works and work. Perhaps I had proceed, and in fact there are other in your pages, because it shows there even forgotten the existence of my letter approaches capable of fine results, is no “personal vendetta” going on. within a few years of its publication, including approaches that Louis But in another way one is sorry. One because I do not remember myself as Johnson pursued and honourably shares doesn’t expect great poetry in songs. conscious of such an attack on Louis with other major poets in English. Some But Mr. Johnson has not supplied us Johnson when I was moving in Mrs of these approaches of Louis Johnson I with music, so we must judge his Dronke’s circle in the early 1960s. It is spell out in technical detail in my 1998 piece as literature. The trouble with just possible that I never knew at the publication cited, and I believe I can say song-poetry is that it encourages time that my letter had been published, I have been perfectly successful in padding and parody. Mr. Johnson though that seems unlikely. making a convincing case that way. doubtless has taken his lead in song- Finding this letter of mine again gives poetry from Mr. Baxter. This new me pleasure and satisfaction. I am trend in Wellington poetry is probably pleased to recover what may be my

8 ...... Poetry Archive earliest public statement on literary Bertram of my book of poems Poems People without a sense of aesthetics fall matters or perhaps any matters Published in 1976-1978, 510 small into formlessness, largely abandon whatever, though it is not my earliest pages. It was a very favourable review, historical culture, and generally make publication of all, since I had short be it said. do with exceedingly debased cultural stories in print in 1947. Poems Published in 1976-1978 contains standards. I get satisfaction from the fact that this something like 7000 lines of verse, letter reveals my literary thought as at about half of the text of The Epilogue 2008 1954, so confirming my statement long Alexandrians as it then existed. since then that I had already formed my Even earlier in 1964, I had a very For further comparison in 1964 I was 31 basic literary views well before 1960, favourable review by Peter Dronke in years old in contrast to Louis Johnson indeed in the early 1950s. This letter is Landfall, September 1964, of my early 30 in 1954 and in 1978 I was 45 in proof of that. So the letter is an poems. contrast to Louis Johnson in 1969. I important document for me, gladly But the fact is that in 1954, though I had don’t consider the comparison to my recovered for that reason. been writing poetry quite seriously since disadvantage as a poet. Louis Johnson’s poem in question 1946 I had had only two poems in print, appears in NZ Listener, 8 October 1954, and in my collected poems (in the form Niel Wright’s The Pop Artist’s Garland: page 16. of my epic or semi-epic or quasi-epic or Selected Poems 1952-2009 was recently In spite of my criticism, ‘Song in the anti-epic The Alexandrians) only the 21 published by HeadworX, and was part Hutt Valley’ was Louis Johnson’s most pieces in Day 1 and Quis Multa Gracilis of a New Zealand display at the Poetry successful and popular poem, still in Book 49 date 1955 or earlier, all the Library, Southbank Centre, London, in making an anthology in 1993 when rest perishing as rubbish except for a 2011. nothing else if his would fill the bill couple of pieces whose loss I reject. He is co-founder and administrator for (in ’s anthology 100 New So it is reasonable to say that in 1954 I the Poetry Archive of New Zealand Zealand Poems). opinionated on Louis Johnson’s poetry Aotearoa. His poetry appeared in Issue Louis Johnson responded to my with very little of my own under my 14 of the online journal International criticism in a letter to NZ Listener belt either in quantity or quality. Literary Quarterly (USA/UK). reading as follows: But what is important is that in 1954 when I had just turned 21 I had already WELLINGTON POETRY set up quite severe literary standards for Comment on Tiki myself and anybody else who fell foul Sir, – I wish to thank F.W.N. Wright of them. Cootes for the comparison of my poem. Louis Johnson’s response was that I was “Song in the Hutt Valley,” with the judging him by too high a standard and work of W. B. Yeats. This is to being petty in doing so. But of course A recent web comment on NZ poet Tiki compare my poem with the highest my come back is that Louis Johnson Cootes was added to Mark Pirie’s attainment in the particular genre – sold himself short by copping out in Tingling Catch weblog on Cootes’ and, of course, I humbly accept the competition with the best, though to be cricket ballad. Cootes published one strictures which rise of such sure Yeats is merely a fourth rate poet book of his bush ballads through John comparisons. But how niggling, petty most of the time. In fact it was just the McIndoe in Dunedin. Here is the and unworthy are the other comments particularity of my criticism that was its comment on Cootes giving new made in the same letter. merit. information on his later life in Australia: This aside, I look forward to seeing Looking back over 58 years I would your correspondent’s knowledge of now say that what sorted the sheep from I knew Tiki well, he worked in a craft these matters bringing into print in the goats of that time in the early 1950s shop that we ran in Pine Creek, The Listener a poem of the kind which as well thereafter is this. Some of us had Northern Territory, Australia, I I failed to write. a sense of aesthetics and others lacked witnessed him meet a lovely lass, LOUIS JOHNSON (Lower Hutt). it. Those who lacked a sense of whom he shared tender years with aesthetics went on to embrace and before he passed away. Louis Johnson at the end of his letter promote Modernism in literature. This During his time in Pine Creek, he challenges me to publish my own poetry is what Peter Dronke and C K Stead did carved many outstanding wooden in the NZ Listener. to a great or less extent in spite of the pieces, a Baptismal Font for the In fact over the years thereafter I was to fact that both knew better or were Church, support beams at the Lazy offer the NZ Listener only two or three exposed to better examples. Those who Lizard Bar, and the Entrance gates to of my poems to publish, if even so had a sense of aesthetics remained much the local school, we loved his songs, many, and none were accepted. more traditional, as I did I believe, and many he wrote himself, he is sadly But in 1978 perhaps I got my revenge as did also Jeremy Commons, I think it missed. when the NZ Listener (12 August 1978) is fair to say. Here is a link to some of his carvings. published a full page review by James http://s27.photobucket.com/albums/c1 ...... 9 Spring 2012 74/swampyro/Tiki%20Cootes%20Car Title: Old Hat from the 19th century to the present vings%20Pine%20Creek%20NT/ Author: Mark Pirie day. Comment posted by swampgyro ISBN: 978-0-473-22123-2 The Archive also contains photos and Price: $20.00 paintings of NZ poets, publisher’s Tiki Cootes was born in Nelson. He Extent: 64 pages catalogues, poetry ephemera, posters, worked at a wide variety of jobs and at Format: 148mmx210mm reproductions of book covers and other one time made a living as a wood carver Publication: October 2012 memorabilia related to NZ poetry and as well as working for the Ministry of Publisher: HeadworX Publishers poetry performance. Works at Cromwell. He played the banjo and guitar and wrote mainly bush Wanted ballads which were collected in There’s NZ poetry books (old & new) Some Hard Cases About!: A Poetic Donate to PANZA Other NZ poetry items i.e. critical books Round Up of Some I’ve Met, 1979. through PayPal on NZ poetry, anthologies of NZ poetry, poetry periodicals and broadsheets, poetry event programmes, posters New publication by You can now become a friend of and/or prints of NZ poets or their poetry PANZA or donate cash to help us books. PANZA member: Old continue our work by going to http://pukapukabooks.blogspot.com and DONT THROW OUT OLD NZ Hat by Mark Pirie accessing the donate button – any POETRY! SEND IT TO PANZA donation will be acknowledged. PANZA will offer: Mark Pirie’s new book, Old Hat, is a • Copies of NZ poetry books for private collection of triolets, or extended research and reading purposes. epigrams, covering a wide variety of Recently received • Historical information for poets, subjects, including sport, history, donations writers, journalists, academics, literature, childhood, biography, researchers and independent scholars of contemporary events and film. NZ poetry. Figures as wide-ranging as Cleopatra, Tony Chad – Upper Hutt – Gateway to • Photocopying for private research the World Cup winning All Blacks, the Great Outdoors – 2012 Upper Hutt purposes. cricketer Gary Sobers, baseball star Poetry Day anthology. • Books on NZ poetry and literary Babe Ruth, Formula 1 driver Ayrton history, and CD-ROMs of NZ poetry Senna, writers Dorothy Parker and John Ellis – A momentary glimpse in and literature Margaret Mahy, sprinter Usain Bolt, time and space by John Ellis. • CDs of NZ poets reading their work musician Bob Dylan, and Jack and Meg • Inspirational talks on NZ poets White of the rock duo The White Mike Brosnan – The Bloggs Works by • Video/DVD/film screenings of Stripes come to life in its pages. Mike Brosnan. documentaries on NZ poets

• Readings/book launches by NZ poets “[Pirie] displays a wicked sense of Mark Pirie – 40 titles. • Educational visits for primary schools, humour and a cunning sense of style.” intermediates, colleges, universities and – Bill Direen, New Zealand Listener PANZA kindly thanks these donators to creative writing schools/classes.

the archive. • The Northland Writers’ Walk (in planning)

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10 ...... Poetry Archive Dr Niel Wright - Archivist (04) 475 8042 Dr Michael O’Leary - Archivist (04) 905 7978 email: [email protected]

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