. . . Poetry Notes

Summer 2011 Volume 1, Issue 4

ISSN 1179-7681 Quarterly Newsletter of PANZA

always had cat(s) or dog(s) or some Inside this Issue Welcome combination of both.) Born near the end of 1940, Kerry spent Hello and welcome to the fourth issue the war years with her mother at her Welcome of Poetry Notes, the newsletter of grandmother’s home in Pahiatua. When 1 PANZA, the newly formed Poetry her father returned from the Pacific Archive of New Zealand Aotearoa. theatre, the family moved to Napier Tim Jones interviews Poetry Notes will be published quarterly where she grew up. She still feels a real and will include information about Kerry Popplewell connection with Hawke’s Bay, goings on at the Archive, articles on especially with the Kaweka and historical New Zealand poets of interest, Classic New Zealand Ruahine ranges where she and her occasional poems by invited poets and a husband have often tramped. Both her poetry 3 record of recently received donations to parents were teachers, her father Jim

the Archive. Reidy being the first principal of Poetry Archive depositor The newsletter will be available for free Colenso High School. She thinks 4 Harvey McQueen dies download from the Poetry Archive’s teaching must be a form of hereditary website: insanity since, having gained an MA in English at VUW and studied at the Eulogies for Harvey http://poetryarchivenz.wordpress.com McQueen University of Chicago, she returned to lecture in English for nearly ten years before resigning to care for her children; Comment by Fiona An interview with and, once they started school, she taught 7 Kidman and Ron Riddell Mathematics as well as English at Kerry Popplewell Onslow College for fifteen years. PANZA member reviewed In 1995 she took a year’s leave without in America pay, travelled overseas for some months 9 Wellington editor/poet/fiction writer and decided to retire early. It was then Tim Jones interviews Wellington poet New publication by she started to write poems: “I’d always Kerry Popplewell. meant to be a poet but it took me a PANZA member while to realise that to be one you had to Kerry Popplewell has lived in Ngaio, complete poems!” Several courses she Recently received Wellington, with her husband Bruce for took at the International Institute of donations many years in a house that looks over to Modern Letters helped her start to do the hills running south from Mount so. About the Poetry Archive Kaukau; it gets all of the sun and most of the wind. They have two adult Tim: Leaving the Tableland was children and more grandchildren than launched in May 2010. I think that was they ever anticipated, though the only the best-attended book launch I’ve been PANZA other permanent residents at the to - there must have been over 100 PO Box 6637 moment are a large black Labrador people there. For those who were not Marion Square called Louis and a Burmese cat called present, what led you to choose that Wellington 6141 Bailey - both ‘hand-me-ups’ from one particular venue, and what made it such of their children. (Their home has a success?

...... Summer 2011 Kerry: I thought that if I were to have a Kerry: I think the poets I read did that - launch, I’d like it to be a party for but certainly Helen Hill, the teacher to friends as well - and, as many of those whose memory my collection is we know well are trampers, the choice dedicated, encouraged my own efforts. I of the Tararua Tramping Club hall must have been a trial to her in some seemed fitting. One of my friends ways, pestering her to read the whole of suggested it, possibly in jest, and I Shelley’s “Ode to the West Wind” and thought ‘Why not?’ It felt good being in “Lycidas” to our fourth form (Year 10) a familiar place, even if the absence of English class. Later I appreciated her an oven meant we had to buy a small reluctance! Helen Hill was also portable one for $8 on Trade Me to heat responsible for introducing me to the pastries! Roger Steele, my publisher, tramping so she certainly had a big said he’d never had a launch in a influence on my life. tramping club hall before but he got keen on the idea and insisted we heat Tim: Which poets do you feel have had cheerios in a billy over a primus. the most influence on your own work?

Kerry: Keats truly floored me when I was 14 - not only was I going to be a poet, I was sure I too would die at 25. A year or so later, it was Hopkins who had me giddy on words and rhythm. Then, Tim: Was the path from initial idea to in my MA year, Joan Stevens published collection straightforward? introduced us to Philip Larkin and if I had to single out one poet whose work Kerry: No, but mostly because of my has almost surely influenced mine, it advanced skills in procrastination. Then, would be him; but then, behind Larkin in 2006, a friend suggested I apply for as it were, is Wordsworth whose Tim: Do your work on your poetry in one of the Manuscript Assessment attraction for me grew slowly but your head as you walk, or are the two - Awards the New Zealand Society of surely. On the other hand, the poet on writing poetry and tramping - quite Authors offer each year. I was fortunate whose work I intended to do my separate activities? enough to be given one and even more doctoral dissertation (something I never fortunate in getting James Norcliffe as quite got round to!) was the Orkney Kerry: Mostly separate, though I do my assessor. After all the detailed poet, Edwin Muir. Of course there are remember composing a haiku climbing advice he gave me, I felt I really had to all the other poets whom I have at one up a ridge above Gollan’s Valley. Odd get moving. Even so, it was probably a time or another ‘discovered’ - Edward phrases, rhythms or ideas may come to year after Roger Steele agreed to take Thomas, Dickinson, Auden, Herbert - me tramping but as for a poem, I need - on my book that the collection came out not to mention New Zealand poets from literally - to have a pen in hand. But of - I needed to do a good deal more work Bethell to Bill Manhire. I’d find it hard course the places I tramp in and the on it myself. to say though whether or not they’ve experiences I have in the mountains influenced my own work in a particular provide material for my poems - as do Tim: You taught for many years. Was way. all the other facets of my life, be it teaching something that helped or family, friends or faith. hindered your poetry - or is that too Tim: Has having a book published simplistic a question? changed how you feel about the role of Tim: If it isn’t an indelicate question, poetry in your life? when did you first think of putting a Kerry: In my case, I think ‘hindered’ as collection of your poetry together? teaching, no matter the subject matter or Kerry: Not really. Though I’d like to level, will absorb every bit of time and think I might become more disciplined Kerry: Hmm. The really indelicate creative energy you are prepared to give in setting aside time to write and more question would be asking why it took it. But then teaching was something I diligent in sending work off for me so long to do so! Right from around truly enjoyed, so I’m not consumed with publication. I remember Elizabeth 1996 when I started not just to write but regret for all those unwritten poems! Smither at a workshop some years ago also to submit poems for publication I advising us to ‘Send Something thought I’d get round to collecting them Tim: Other poets are able to combine Somewhere’ every month - I wish I did. sometime. writing and teaching very successfully. Did a particular person inspire you to start writing poetry?

2 ...... Poetry Archive Tim: Now that Leaving the Tableland March days are here. The bright, hot sun And think of the groups around the fire. has been published, do you have Is fierce and masterful at noon, Will any be thinking of me? another collection, or some other Then droops so coldly in the west I don’t mind – writing project, under way? And darkness gathers strangely soon. I am just a little brown shadow, flitting past. Kerry: Well, I’m probably at least a March days are here. Among the green third of the way towards having enough The English trees all golden glow, Must I leave it? poems for a second collection - very The toi-plumes are creamy-white, Cold and alone, must I go few of the poems in Leaving the And lanterned boughs the orchids show. Through the wilds beyond Earth Tableland were written after 2005 and To the courts where the white angels they’ve slowly been accumulating since March days are here. At dawn and dusk stand then. Also, because I left it so long to A little chill creeps through the air, August, majestic? get out a book, there were a number of All day the airy thistledown other poems I’d like to have included Is wafted light, now here, now there. Be certain, I shall come back. but couldn’t. I recall Roger Steele saying that a volume the size I’d had in March nights are here. The matai logs mind was “a little immodest for a first Blaze in the open fireplace wide; THE DEWDROP collection”. I’m sure he was right. (He While drowsy-quiet the warm room was kind enough to suggest I could save dreams, I shook the stem, and watched the some of them for next time!) Cold steal the dewy airs outside. dewdrop roll Along the leaf. As hesitant, it fared Tim Jones was recently awarded the In little jerks, yet gathered all complete NZSA Janet Frame Memorial Award for THE HOMELY GHOST As though its coming fate it wholly Literature. dared. This interview was first published on I shall come back A sullen globe it was; full black it Tim’s blog in October 2010 where he Very quietly, very softly, seemed conducts monthly interviews with A little brown shadow. And silver-edged. Then, with a flash, writers. More info on Tim at became http://timjonesbooks.blogspot.com I shall not come A ball of rainbow light and liveliness, When the moon is white like a bone, And red and blue burned in its heart like And the house-dogs howl. flame. Classic New Zealand Not on a dark night With uneasy winds, The leaf-end reached, and there the poetry When the ivy scratches the window, shining drop And the paper stirs on the wall. Flattened itself and paused; then, pointing, fell This issue’s classic New Zealand poems I shall come back And splashed upon my hand and spilt are by Marjory Nicholls. In the Autumn, itself PANZA archivist Niel Wright who In the early twilight. Of all its loveliness; and who could tell republished her complete poems I shall wear a russet cloak From that wet spot upon my hand, that through Original Books in 2009 says And have a basket on my arm once, that Nicholls was a leading New With red apples and brown nuts in it, Born of dark night and wandering cold Zealand poet of the decade 1910-1920 And golden honey-comb. air, and mentored by J H E Schroder. Had glowed a miracle of darting fire Born in 1891, Nicholls published three I shall watch the children playing Where now the leaf forsakenly is bare. collections in her lifetime. She died in a And they will not be afraid. bus stop accident in 1930. The old woman will just walk past and nod; IN THE DARKNESS MARCH DAYS Walk past, and into the beech-wood With its coppery leaves on the ground, It is quiet in the darkness. March days are here. The busy winds And down by the pond, and the fields I am no longer I, Are chasing summer from the skies; With their big yellow ricks. You are no longer you; She lingers yet in garden plots Older and older we grow. And sadly smiles in Autumn eyes. I shall pass the cottage-windows – Younger and younger; Those with red curtains and glinting Wise with the years that are aeons, with firelight. Unknowing as when time began; I shall watch the blue smoke from the Greater and greater we grow, chimneys Smaller and smaller; ...... 3 Summer 2011 We are all men and women January 2011 at Old St Paul’s, with Longman Paul. The first of these, And all creatures mating, Mulgrave Street, Wellington. co-edited with Lois Cox, was Ten We are as the tiniest first-thing. In lieu of flowers, you are invited to Modern New Zealand Poets, in 1974. make a donation to the Harvey The second was A Cage of Words in Unity infinite, endless McQueen Memorial Fund, to foster 1980. But John’s respect for Harvey’s Purposing whither? children’s appreciation of New editing capability wasn’t based just on Zealand’s birds through Zealandia. the evidence of these excellent books. It It is quiet in the darkness. Donations may be posted to Zealandia, was also based on his recognition that PO Box 9267, Marion Square, Harvey’s enthusiasm and sympathy for (Poems selected from Thirdly by Wellington 6141. poetry owed much to his experience in Marjory Nicholls, 1930) Harvey wrote a blog Stoat Spring and the classroom, and as a curriculum was an active member of the New planner. Publications by Marjory Nicholls: Zealand literary blog community. All There was no doubt a strategic aspect to A Venture in Verse (Whitcombe and who’ve followed his blog over the past this – after all, one of the anthology’s Tombs, 1917). few years will feel the loss of his key markets was going to be the Gathered Leaves (Whitcome and presence. Harvey was also the co-editor education one. But, as John explained to Tombs, 1922). with Ian Wedde of The Penguin Book of me when we talked about the invitation Thirdly (H.H. Tombs, 1930). New Zealand Verse, the memoirs The on the phone, he was far more interested Complete Poems in two volumes Ninth Floor and This Piece of Earth, in Harvey’s ability to ground the (Original Books, 2009). and seven poetry collections, including anthology in the diverse, democratic, Goya Rules (HeadworX, 2010). His last challenging space of the secondary Further reading: poetry anthology, These I Have Loved: school classroom. The small audience A reading of the Aotearoa poet Marjory My Favourite New Zealand Poems of adult ‘poetry lovers’ could take care Lydia Nicholls (1891-1930): an essay (Steele Roberts) appeared last October of themselves and any comprehensive by F W Nielsen Wright, Cultural and and that same year he was interviewed anthology would take care of them too Political Booklets, 2001. and featured by Mark Pirie in his poetry more or less by default, whatever Notes on Marjory Lydia Nicholls journal, broadsheet, issue no. 5. arguments would inevitably break out complete poems by F W Nielsen PANZA greatly appreciated his over selections (and they did). But Wright, Original Books, 2009. contribution to building a New Zealand Harvey, as a poet and poetry lover J H E Schroder and the poetry of E. S. poetry archive. himself, was also capable of being the and Marjory Lydia Nicholls in C.C. anthology’s audience advocate at a Review : a report on research plus some grassroots level. original poems by F W Nielsen Wright, Eulogies for Harvey If John’s plan was to install Harvey as Cultural and Political Booklets, 2010. the common-sense editor and me as the The Homely Ghost by Marjory Nicholls, McQueen maverick, he was mistaken. The only selected by guest editor Mark Pirie, maverick quality I brought to our Tuesday Poem Blog, 1 February 2011 collaboration was my ignorance of New Note on Harvey by Ian Wedde Zealand poetry compared to Harvey’s encyclopaedic knowledge. Harvey was Poetry Archive I don’t remember the exact date I first perfectly capable of thinking outside the met Harvey, but it would have been square and did so frequently, he had depositor Harvey around 1982 or 83, when we were extremely broad tastes, was an approached by John Barnett, the editor insatiable reader, and – the first thing I McQueen dies at Penguin Books New Zealand, to put noticed when I entered his and Anne’s together an anthology of New Zealand house in Northland – had the most poetry. John was a very gifted editor comprehensive library of New Zealand PANZA depositor, the well-known whose job was to grow Penguin New poetry I’d ever seen. poet/educationalist/anthologist Harvey Zealand’s literary list. I remember that Harvey and I liked each other and we McQueen, sadly passed away on 25 in his letter to me he asked me to think very quickly agreed that we’d enjoy December 2010. about two aspects of the invitation. The working together. We established a set PANZA would like to offer their first was the need for a well-tensioned of simple rules for the job. We’d read or condolences to his partner Anne Else as collaboration between editors who, re-read ‘everything’. We’d examine and well as his family and friends. A small between them, would stretch the discuss the canon that had been private service for Harvey was held at opportunity. The second was Harvey’s established by previous anthologies, the Main Chapel, Karori Crematorium credentials as one of those editors. John without any particularly iconoclastic on Friday 31 December 2010. A public had immense respect for Harvey’s agenda in mind; we’d look hard and memorial service was held on Friday 28 work. This was partly on the basis of the extensively at the large volume of two anthologies he’d already done, both poetry that had appeared in the previous 4 ...... Poetry Archive two decades, and propose the need for a Loved, in the chapter called ‘You know hospitality, which was intellectual as companion anthology of contemporary the place’: well as social. But with any luck we’ll poetry; and we’d look at the cultural get a chance to do that soon. situation, especially with respect to When I boarded in Akaroa I was composition both oral and written in te fascinated to learn that the old lady Ian Wedde is a Wellington poet, Reo Maori. slowly pedalling around on a creaky anthologist, critic and fiction writer. He Harvey was an astonishingly well bicycle was Blanche Baughan. To my co-edited the best selling Penguin Book organised man. He got through school mates she seemed a figure of of New Zealand Verse with Harvey prodigious amounts of work without fun but I knew better. Poets were flesh McQueen. fuss, and without any loss of and blood, not just something in a enthusiasm. Our work plan for the book. On Pop’s death I’d inherited his Eulogy by Mark Pirie anthology involved agreeing on joint copy of her poems. reading lists, bringing new suggestions We studied ‘The old place’ at the As Harvey’s poetry publisher I’ve been to the discussion, and regular meetings District High School there. It struck a asked to say a few words about to discuss our short-lists. It was during chord. I’d seen retiring farmers with Harvey’s poetry. In all, Harvey these meetings, which took place at tears in their eyes, heartbroken as they published seven poetry collections and Harvey and Anne’s house, that I really said goodbye to the land they’d had two small privately printed got to know Harvey. These evenings, worked for decades. Later, I taught the pamphlets produced. His poetry has its often quite long, and always intense, poem myself. Several times I set an own kind of individual excellence as do remain among the most interesting and essay topic, ‘What happened to John’. his anthologies and his education work. enjoyable of my life. We didn’t always While there were always fantasies – In his final anthology These I Have agree easily, and sometimes our joint captured by pirates or flying saucers – Loved, Harvey ends with an elegy by short-lists were very long indeed, but in a considerable number wrote about a Alistair Campbell for the late Lauris the end we always came to agreements father’s grief, a testament to Edmond. Alistair writes that “Love without either of us feeling Baughan’s capacity to evoke a feeling. never dies” and Harvey commented to compromised. The same went for the Indeed, I harbour a secret heresy, that me that love was a binding theme subsequent anthology of contemporary our poetry did not begin just with throughout this anthology. Leo Tolstoy New Zealand poetry that we did for Bethell but started to shift from Old also once wrote: “All, everything that I Penguin, with Miriama Evans joining Country imitative with Baughan, understand, I understand only because I the editorial team, which was published especially her two longer poems love.” Both these comments give insight four years after the first one, in 1989. ‘Maui’s Fish’ and ‘A Bush Section’. into Harvey’s role as a poet. All in all, Harvey’s and my association But then she wrote about Banks Harvey had a great love of humanity in as editors lasted for almost a decade. Peninsula and I can hardly be called all its folly and stupidity, he enjoyed The two anthologies were did together, impartial. I deliberately called my quarrelling with history, exposing us to with of course the participation also of anthology of early poetry The New the seriousness of human mistakes, and Margaret Orbell and Miriama Evans, Place: The Poetry of Settlement in celebrating human moments in time. He had robust reprint lives of about fifteen New Zealand 1852-1914. The last also greatly enjoyed using his garden as years each. This durability owed much poem in it is ‘The old place’. When a metaphor for human action sometimes to Harvey’s work. the new place has become the old comparing the harsh nature of the At the end of our sessions, Harvey place, settlement has taken effect. natural world with what was occurring would always pour us a Scotch or two. in the human world. And this wouldn’t be just any old What is quietly remarkable about that Harvey noted in his memoir, this piece Scotch. Harvey had two or three plain piece of writing is the way it of earth, that his poetry publisher Mark favourite single malts, one of them I interweaves personal memory, some had begun to detect certain similarities seem to remember of the dryish Spey- quite large overarching intellectual between his poems and Ursula Bethell’s side variety. Somewhere in the weird concepts, professional empathy, and a garden poems. Bethell’s best poems cognitive back-chamber of my memory comprehensive reader’s knowledge. In concerned her garden. There certainly is another one, though, Laphroaig from this it represents much that was typical are similarities between these two poets, the Isle of Islay, whose seaweedy, of Harvey. but Harvey did not write solely on his smoky flavour I associate with an It’s never too late to thank people for garden. He also wrote humorous poems, evening spent talking about the poet their hospitality and so now is a good science fiction poems, elegies, spiritual Blanche Baughan, who we both agreed time to thank Anne and Harvey for poems, political and bureaucratic was one of the keys to understanding theirs – for all those times I came in and sequences, love poems, poems about the tipping points in a broad cultural spent a few hours talking and shuffling films/DVDs, books, TV shows, sports trajectory of poetry in New Zealand. photocopies in the living room at their events, poems about his family, travel This is part of what Harvey wrote about place. I wish we could raise a glass of poems, poems about his own health and Blanche Baughan in These I Have good whisky at this point in care, but beneath it all was an acknowledgement of that generous underlying sense of love for humanity.

...... 5 Summer 2011 His humanist concerns and capacity for room for one on the central podium. My look carefully at the faces in the crowd, love are what are enduring in his work money’s they’re not so lovely, some of them. to me. Harvey was alert to both, the light and I’d like to read a poem that I think the dark in Goya, when he chose that on the abutilon, but there are further captures what Harvey was doing title. It was a volume that faced, square effectively as a poet. ‘Winter Olympics’ complications in our small coppice on, illness and mortality. It was also makes use of his trademark corner grateful, celebratory, ‘A perfect day for juxtaposition of the imagery of his a Renoir picnic,’ as he says, or when he garden and the imagery of for at their feet there’s this cheeky invokes, ‘Eve, mother of us all, isn’t she contemporary life. The poem appeared indigenous beautiful.’ in broadsheet 5, a feature I did on intruder, a red stemmed, peppery-leaved There’s a good phrase in which Harvey Harvey last year which also includes an matipo. tells you where, as they say, he is interview. coming from - ‘an alcove in the In closing, I’d like to acknowledge universe that I inhabit.’ That alcove, WINTER OLYMPICS Harvey’s help with my recently that perspective he writes from, so very published cricket poetry anthology, A often was his garden - that sprawling, By Harvey McQueen Tingling Catch: A Century of New tended, intricately named metaphor for Zealand Cricket Poems 1864-2009. so much else, and yet always solidly Not a maple in sight; when she Harvey, as Roger [Robinson] has itself. He makes you attend to things outside your window, to what graces sold us the place Elizabeth asked commented, was a great anthologist. He around you, as his favourite Ursula was a benchmark to measure you against as an anthologist, he read nearly Bethell also made you attend. As you if she could dig up a cherished camellia. every book of New Zealand poetry, and move through his poems, it comes home While we believed it was too big to I was very fortunate to have his input just how much delight he took in what survive when I was putting together my book. was everyday. As Mansfield says, what Today I’m wearing Don Neely’s NZ holds us is ‘the life in the life of detail’. the strain, we said ‘Sure’. Behind Cricket tie that he gave me at the book That, when the chips are down, may be the hole it left was a cowering launch at the Basin Long Room last the strongest defence we have against what another poem calls ‘the horrifying wintersweet. year as recognition of the book’s service to New Zealand cricket. Harvey played banality’ of those people, or those

a part in the book. I visited Anne and occasions, that deny the detail of others, Leslie gave a white abutilon cutting Harvey’s place and had conversations the individual they don’t approve of. to fill the gap. Stasis did not prevail. about the book over the last couple of Poetry, if you like, is one voice’s years. barricade against tyranny. Which led The flame lit, competitively the two Thanks, Harvey, for all that you’ve directly to that other aspect of the man plants done for New Zealand poets and poetry. and the writer. What mattered most to bolted for the space of sky, a trajectory Harvey rang with his sense of community; what he shared with others Mark Pirie, a Wellington writer, publisher, anthologist, critic and was what he most valued as his own. of green-power. Nature’s not into PANZA archivist, published three of And of course we never forget – we’re charity. Harvey McQueen’s collections, never allowed to forget - that Harvey The surrounding tall trees presented a Pingandy, Recessional and Goya Rules. was always a teacher. Right back with challenge. the Romans, Horace made a point of it: Eulogy by Vincent O’Sullivan poetry is to delight, he said, and to After two years, the abutilon now has a instruct. Both are based on the premise that somebody knows something that three Last year, on a very happy afternoon at somebody else will be the better for foot stem before four leggy branches, St Ninian’s Church hall, at the launch of Harvey’s last collection, I made a few knowing. Harvey’s directness, his huge leaves remarks about his poetry, which Anne honesty, became qualities too in what he has now asked me to touch on again. wrote, in his acknowledging there are & only five flowers, graceful as dance The book was called Goya Rules. It was things to face at times which are a long skaters a fitting title for this clear-eyed take on way from fun. He puzzles about things on ice. Revitalised the wintersweet what is good, and what is troublesome, that have always puzzled. Or as he puts jostles like in one man’s life. In the painting deftly it, ‘this is no simple flirtation with existence.’ He knew entirely rational chosen for its cover, Goya depicts a celebration. There is music, dancing, answers won’t quite do. As he says an overbearing ice hockey jock. There is costumes, and there is a sinister figure, again, ‘he’s already on/ the back foot, only too, that has joined the dance. If you for he knows reason unleashed 6 ...... Poetry Archive Robespierre.’ As he knew, to quote of the century. It feels like a unique only to find there are previously again, ‘The spirit seeks more than the moment in time. The Greek philosopher unplumbed depths and surprises.’ dead end / But doubt remains Pythagoras saw 10 as the symbol of the Well, I get all of that, because the kind predominant.’ I am not the only one universe and of expressing the whole of of poems that Harvey loves are often the who would think how appropriate this human knowledge. ones I love too and I guess that that line of his is, to the man who was our As it happens, I’ve got a passion for the shared delight, as well as our long friend: ‘Stoicism/ under siege buckles synchronicity of numbers. I’m a failed friendship, something I will return to, is but rallies: old habits hold.’ mathematician, who might have been the reason Harvey asked me to launch Finally, may I repeat what I said to better but for a change of schools when this book today. Like Harvey, I love Harvey face to face on the afternoon of I was growing up. And I don’t have any Ruth Dallas’s poem ‘Milking Before his launch. If I imagine being bailed up deep hindsight into what numbers might Dawn’ which is one of the great pastoral and had to answer, ‘What are the or might not signify in our lives. But it poems of New Zealand’s or any, poetry. qualities you most value in New does seem to me that this idea of the It has a great resonance for me, who Zealanders?’ I’d take a short cut. I’d whole of human knowledge rings one or milked many a cow before dawn, with say, ‘You might do worse than take a two bells here as, on this 10th day, we chilblains on my fingers. Then there’s look at Harvey McQueen.’ And if I was launch a collection of one man’s poetic the countryside of poets like Brian quizzed a bit more, I might quote what I human knowledge, distilled into those Turner, Denis Glover, the different wrote in the foreword to his book: poems he loves the best. landscapes of Mark Pirie, Pat White and ‘These are poems in the long and These I Have Loved are poems loved by Janet Frame, and of course the poetry of admirable tradition of the humanist the poet and educator, our friend Harvey his own beloved Little River territory on belief that to face the facts, to find the McQueen, 100 New Zealand poems that Banks Peninsula where he grew up. So language for speaking them, is also to have caught his attention, lingered in his landscape, and family and childhood, live alertly, kindly, attentive to what the memory, and stayed there as lasting love and loss, food and its preparation- day is and what it brings.’ sentinels, totem poles if you like, to his witness Ian Wedde’s lovely poem ‘To And I now add what then would have life long love of language and poetry. Autumn’ – for instance, and gardening, embarrassed him - a good, wise, dear Or to put it another way, as a beacon to are some of the great themes that man. the wider life of the mind, a way into Harvey explores. learning and understanding that which is How does he put it all together? Well, Vincent O’Sullivan is a Wellington important. he has divided his loves into several poet, fiction writer, biographer, It’s no real surprise to those of us who sections” Love the World, I’m in Love anthologist, editor and literary critic. love poetry that, although poetry falls with you, You know the place, Books on hard times, it never dies. The voice and paddocks endure, This much I have (Ian Wedde, Mark Pirie and Vincent of the poet is always with us, the learned, are just some of them. In so O’Sullivan’s eulogies were read at singing words that resonate in our arranging the poems, Harvey does Harvey McQueen’s memorial service at heads, are carried like emblems of grief indeed create symbols of the universe. Old St Paul’s, Wellington, 28 January and happiness, there to sustain us in Each section includes a generous 2011. Ian Wedde, Mark Pirie, Vincent good times and bad. The music of introductory note that creates an order O’Sullivan, Fiona Kidman and Roger poetry embedded in our subconscious and context for the poems. Robinson spoke on Harvey’s literary simply never leaves us, or not the best The book includes a wide ranging, career at the service.) of it, those which we love the most. eclectic mix of poets. But I think it no Indeed, in his introduction to this book, random act that has brought James K. Harvey writes “These are poems which, Baxter into the center of his mix. This Comment by Fiona down the years or in some cases only centrality signals a particular kind of recently, have settled in my mental voice, and again I return to a musicality Kidman and Ron household, comfortable and available, a of language, a yearning beyond the satisfying source of reflection and obvious things of life, to those of the Riddell contemplation. To a considerable extent spirit. We know, because the voice of they represent who I am, or maybe, the Baxter at the heart of Harvey’s choices, Launch Speech for These I Have person I would hope to be. They reflect mean that the poems he has chosen will Loved: My Favourite New Zealand my temperament and my interests. reflect a certain quality of music and Poems edited by Harvey McQueen There are long poems and short poems, rhythm, plus expressions of social some simple, others difficult, some comment and concern. You could say By Fiona Kidman well-known, others not. I, that is Harvey here, perhaps, that for Harvey Baxter still speaking here, used to tell my represents a centrifugal force from the There’s something marvelous and students, you don’t need to understand a past 50 or 60 odd years, similar to that exhilarating and absolutely special poem to fully like it. Love has the of that Dylan Thomas in Welsh poetry, about gathering with friends for the 10th capacity to astonish. Like relationships, or Seamus Heaney does for in Ireland, day of the 10th month of the 10th year you think you’ve grasped the essence, or, if one dare mention him in the same ...... 7 Summer 2011 breath, Leonard Cohen does for Canada. Maelstrom appeared in 1981. He moved A Wonderful Weekend of Poetic Baxter, then, is an indicator, of what we to Wellington in 1977, and it was Dialogue in Hiruharama on the might expect from Harvey’s choices of somewhere in the space of those years, Wanganui River poem, his view of what constitutes New when he was moving amongst my Zealand poetry. friends, those several poets of the 70s, By Ron Riddell There are several recent poems by I’ve mentioned as appearing in this newly emerging poets, and also many book, that we got to know each other. On the weekend of November the 27th who spring from a group of their time, He’s been a school teacher, a school and 28th there was a much-anticipated people who were seriously writing inspector and an education aide to gathering of poets in Jerusalem. Nine poetry in the 1960s and 1970s, a time former Prime Minister David Lange, poetic pilgrims made the hot, winding where my own modest poetic history and most of all a poet of whom it has journey up the river road to share their began. Vincent O’Sullivan, Lauris been written that his poems often poetry; their thoughts about life; their Edmond, Alistair Campbell, Louis contain a very simple action that hopes for “papatuanuku” (mother earth) Johnson, Sam Hunt, Elizabeth Smither, becomes a symbol for a universal and humanity. Rachel McAlpine, Tony Beyer, Bill human truth. He is above all a constant In a series of moving exchanges, poetic Manhire, to name just a few. In many friend to many, and a mentor of other thoughts and voices were sought and ways it’s a meeting of minds amongst poets. And to Anne Else to whom he found. New ways of looking at life and friends. Vincent O’Sullivan said to me dedicates a poem of his own at the art were explored; new ways of sharing, the other day, and I hope he’ll forgive beginning of the book, he is a loving of hallowing a common creative me for quoting him, that this book is companion, friend and husband. Many ground; new ways of looking at how we significant in the wide range, the broad thanks are owed to Anne for her help in create positive, unifying and healing and generous tone of this selection. I arranging today’s gathering. relationships. echo that, the selection doesn’t live by All in all, and almost the last thing I It was the hope of the organizers, Saray any rule book about what’s good and have to say is that this is a generous, Torres and Ron Riddell that a “further what’s not. Harvey has simply chosen energetic, imaginative and very seed” be planted at Jerusalem; a what he wants without fear or favour. enjoyable anthology, full of unexpected spiritual seed that takes its essence from We do, it seems to me, have a wide surprises which I hope many will own. living creative impulses. To their great poetic mainstream in New Zealand (That means buy the book.) But there is delight, this planting was successful. today, but we also have individual just one more thing: Harvey asked me if Sister Sue and Sister Margaret (whose voices and events, fringes and I would like to read a poem of my own Order of the Sisters of Compassion the movements which wax and wane, and from the book, but on reflection I organizers had worked with previously may not last forever, but leave in their decided that I would like to read one of in the context of the Wellington wake memorable poems. Several of Harvey’s because, apart from the International Poetry Festival) were very Harvey’s books have been published by opening poem for Anne, in typically considerate with their assistance in Mark Pirie’s HeadworX, just one modest fashion, there are none of his making the Jerusalem Retreat Centre example of a publisher and poet own in the book. I was torn between available as the venue for the event. working at the edges of the mainstream, two, one is ‘Reading Janet Frame’, By candlelight on Saturday night not altogether recognized by it, yet which is perhaps my favourite of music was played by Tessa Priest , made the richer by its contribution. Harvey’s poems, and ‘Worth a Chance’. cello; Aladdin Jones, bouzouki and Ron Michael O’Leary at the Earl of Seacliff The first ends on a slightly bleak note, Riddell, hand drums. Susan Frykberg Art Workshop is another. and as today is a day of celebration of sang Baxter poems, Gregorian chants And I should of course place Roger Harvey and of this book, ‘Worth a and other participants read poetry. On Steele, publisher of this book in this Chance’ won out. Sunday morning participants read context, -if that causes Roger a ripple of poetry by other poets – poems that they unease, I’m saying here that these are (Read at St Ninian’s Church Hall, 10 had loved since childhood; poems risk takers, and risk in poetry October 2010) which meant something special to them publication is something to be hailed – and later made creative poetic and celebrated. Sometimes, as we saw Fiona Kidman is a widely known responses to these memories. with Roger’s publication of the poet Wellington writer and novelist. Her Above all, it was a healing, joy-filled Glenn Colquhoun, there are results latest poetry collection, Where Your and peaceful weekend. During a time of beyond all expectations. I should add Left Hand Rests, appeared from sadness and tragedy for a country as a too Roger, that this is a delightful Godwit/Random House in 2010. whole, the Jerusalem Poetry Dialogue production of Harvey’s book and was an oasis offering hope, through the you’ve done it proud. Bravo. clear, regenerative voice of the great I mentioned my friendship with Harvey. Whanganui River: “Ko au te awa, ko te I don’t really remember when it began, awa ko au” (I am the river and the river but I’ve been aware of him as a poet is me). since his first book Against the

8 ...... Poetry Archive Finally, as part of the closing ceremony Christ-figure, but, most prominently, “These are poems which, down the of gratitude the group visited the grave Che as cultural icon who is known years or in some cases only recently, of Hemi (James K. Baxter) to read primarily through his photographic have settled in my mental household, poems and pay tribute, to lay a flower image and has become “the emblem of a comfortable and available, a satisfying and a river stone by his tomb stone. It generation.” As Mark Pirie of New source of reflection and contemplation.” was an uplifting, joyous and Zealand writes in his 2003 poem, “City – from the introduction unforgettable experience, which Walk (for Che Guevara),” “You’ll see hopefully there will be many more of him out there ‘living it up’ on stylized (Poetic Dialogue for Peace & Healing) pop posters/postcards, and key rings, all Recently received in Jerusalem and elsewhere. the latest funky t shirts, commercialized and re-packaged for the disaffected donations (From Wanganui Midweek, 8 December post-counterculture youth.” Poets from 2010, p. 8) 53 countries are represented, including Pablo Neruda, Yevgeny Yevtushenko, Miriam Barr – Side Stream issues (25 Ron Riddell is a painter, musician and Derek Walcott, Thomas Merton, and back issues) the author of a number of plays and Allen Ginsberg. Their words effectively novels, he has published 21 collections share the depth of emotion in their Peter Olds – The Ballad of the Last of verse. His verse collection, Leaves of hearts. –Tom Holmes, King Middle Cold Pie by Peter Olds Light, was awarded The House of School, Berkeley, CA Poetry International Poetry Award for PANZA kindly thanks these donators to 2005. His latest verse collection is the archive. entitled The Oracle of Alexandria (2009). At present, he lives between New publication by New Zealand and Colombia. Whilst PANZA member better known as a poet, he now divides About the Poetry his writing time between fiction and Archive poetry. More information at his website: www.ronriddell.com Poetry Archive of New Zealand Aotearoa (PANZA) PANZA member PANZA contains reviewed in America A unique Archive of NZ published poetry, with around four thousand titles PANZA member Mark Pirie received a from the 19th century to the present mention in the American School Library day. Journal (January 2008) review of Che Title: These I Have Loved: My in Verse (a UK anthology published in Favourite New Zealand Poems The Archive also contains photos and 2007 that also includes New Zealand Editor: Harvey McQueen paintings of NZ poets, publisher’s poets Michael O’Leary and Bernard Publisher: Steele Roberts Ltd catalogues, poetry ephemera, posters, Gadd): Price: $34.99 reproductions of book covers and other Format: Paperback memorabilia related to NZ poetry and Adult/High School–This collection of Category: NZ poetry poetry performance. 134 poems and songs from around the Pages: 192 pages world shows the passion and feeling ISBN: 978-1-877577-09-3 Wanted that Che (Ernesto Guevara) has inspired NZ poetry books (old & new) and continues to inspire among his Harvey McQueen is a leading poet and Other NZ poetry items i.e. critical books many and varied followers. The portrait anthologist. This book presents 100 of on NZ poetry, anthologies of NZ poetry, that emerges is hagiographic, but the his favourite New Zealand poems — poetry periodicals and broadsheets, selections ultimately reveal more about from near-forgotten treasures, through poetry event programmes, posters the poets themselves and their own the classics of Glover, Frame, Tuwhare and/or prints of NZ poets or their poetry causes than they do about Che. and Baxter, to today’s poets like Sam books. O’Toole’s introduction establishes some Hunt, Kate Camp and Amy Brown — powerful and meaningful contexts for with Harvey’s thoughtful introductory DONT THROW OUT OLD NZ understanding the selections: Che as comments about the chosen works. POETRY! SEND IT TO PANZA confidante, revolutionary martyr,

...... 9 Summer 2011 PANZA will offer: • Copies of NZ poetry books for private research and reading purposes. • Historical information for poets, writers, journalists, academics, researchers and independent scholars of NZ poetry. • Photocopying for private research purposes. • Books on NZ poetry and literary history, and CD-ROMs of NZ poetry and literature • CDs of NZ poets reading their work • Inspirational talks on NZ poets • Video/DVD/film screenings of documentaries on NZ poets • Readings/book launches by NZ poets • Educational visits for primary schools, intermediates, colleges, universities and creative writing schools/classes. • The Northland Writers’ Walk (in planning)

You can assist the preservation of NZ poetry by becoming one of the Friends of the Poetry Archive of New Zealand Aotearoa (PANZA ). If you’d like to become a friend or business sponsor of PANZA, please contact us.

Contact Details Poetry Archive of NZ Aotearoa (PANZA) 1 Woburn Road, Northland, Wellington PO Box 6637, Marion Square, Wellington Dr Niel Wright - Archivist (04) 475 8042 Michael O’Leary - Archivist (04) 905 7978 email: [email protected]

Visits by appointment only

Current PANZA Members: Mark Pirie (HeadworX), Roger Steele (Steele Roberts Ltd), Michael O’Leary (Earl of Seacliff Art Workshop) and Niel Wright (Original Books).

Current Friends of PANZA: Paul Thompson, Gerrard O’Leary and the New Zealand Poetry Society.

PANZA is a registered charitable trust

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