. . . Poetry Notes

Winter 2012 Volume 3, Issue 2

ISSN 1179-7681 Quarterly Newsletter of PANZA

( National Bibliography) Inside this Issue Welcome as follows.

Hello and welcome to the tenth issue of [North, Esther Mary], 1892? – 1968 Welcome Poetry Notes, the newsletter of PANZA, Primroses for my fair 1 the newly formed Poetry Archive of by Esma North [pseud.] Niel Wright on the poetry New Zealand Aotearoa. [Wn, Harry H. Tombs Ltd, 1930] of Esma North Poetry Notes will be published quarterly 39. 1 l. 16½ cm ------….. and will include information about “Second impression Jan., 1931.” goings on at the Archive, articles on [1931] 39p. 1 l. 19cm Classic New Zealand historical New Zealand poets of interest, poetry by George E Dewar occasional poems by invited poets and a nd 3 The Union catalogue describes the 2 record of recently received donations to edition as ‘18cm. Green linen’. the Archive. Bagnall gives a birthdate of 1892? But Children’s author Margaret The newsletter will be available for free Mahy dies queries it. As her earliest dated poem 4 download from the Poetry Archive’s belongs to 1915, this could be right website: enough or too early. Bagnall gave her New publication of Ivy death as 1968 no doubt with adequate http://poetryarchivenz.wordpress.com Gibbs’ poems authority. The Union Catalogue lists the holdings of Esma North’s book Primroses For New publication by PANZA Niel Wright on the My Fair in Aotearoa libraries as 5 member recorded by me in 1998 as follows: poetry of Esma North 1st edition: Turnbull, Parliamentary, Dunedin Public, Otago University, Donate to PANZA through Victoria University, Auckland Museum; 6 PayPal Wellington poet/publisher Niel Wright 2nd edition: Turnbull, Invercargill further discusses the Wellington poet Public, Canterbury Public. This is a Recently received Esma North, who Dr Michael O’Leary respectable listing, and suggests that all donations discussed in relation to her friend the serious public collections of Marjory Nicholls in the previous issue Aotearoa verse have her book. In 2012 of Poetry Notes. About the Poetry Archive the New Zealand libraries catalogue gives: 1st edition: Hocken, National The poet Esma North is an interesting Library, Turnbull, Dunedin Public woman and her story as told in this Libraries, Invercargill City Libraries, essay is a worthwhile read. University of Canterbury Library, As a poet there is no evidence that Esma Victoria University of Wellington North counts for much or has ever been Library; 2nd edition: Turnbull. PANZA much esteemed. However, a certain PANZA has two copies (MO & MP). The amount of information has come to PO Box 6637 records on evidence may have become hand, so I will present a brief account. Marion Square confused between the two editions. Her only known book Primroses For There is no question there were two Wellington 6141 My Fair (1930) is listed in Bagnall

...... Winter 2012 editions, because the second one shows specific the poem sequence ‘From My Turnbull Library “by Estate of Miss E. typographical differences from the first. College Study Window’ is dated M. North on 23.6.69.” This information I have used the MO copy. This is a Bedford College, London, 1923. Other establishes: 1/ that Esma North was small book of 24 leaves, 33 pages poems are dated Bayeux, 1923, Indian dead by 1969, so 1968 is a plausible and carrying verse text. It is hard bound in Ocean 1924, Sydney Harbour 1927, reliable date; 2/ that Esma North never green, with nothing on the spine but the Wanganui 1929, Wellington 1930, married; 3/ that in all likelihood Esma title on the front over. It is clearly a Nelson 1930, the last two Silverstream North was resident in Aotearoa during private publication, “Printed by Harry 1930 as is one other. her later life. H. Tombs Ltd., Book Publishers, 22 The earliest poem is dated Wellington Other indications are that the copy was Wingfield St., Wellington, New 1915. This is the love poem ‘Hush! Esma North’s own and that either it was Zealand.” according to the tail piece. Beloved To A.B.’ It is in fact the best mailed to her in London after January The date of publication is definitely poem in the book, and for what it is by 1931 when it was printed, or she 1930, as the dedication is dated no means a bad example. The first poem brought it to Britain with her in 1931 September, 1930. ‘Primroses for My Fair To I. E.’ reads and circulated it in Britain with a return The copy I am using contains a letter by as a floral display for a sick person’s address. There are clippings enclosed, the author dated 21 January 1931, which room. As such it has real merit. ‘The one from the Evening Post (February 26 says the book was published in October Song of a London Bus’ is in its own 1939) quoting her poem ‘The Pine (ie 1930). There is also a handwritten way admirable. Such a poem is to be Trees Pass from St John’s Hill’ with a inscription by the author in this copy read as the response of a colonial bred preceding paragraph ‘In 1930, Miss dated Jan 1931. person to the metropolis. It is an honest E.M. North, the new principal of The name Esma North is a pseudonym, outsider’s view of London, as such Wellington Girls’ College, published a according to Bagnall. The printed genuine and fresh, be it said. It is not slim volume of verse. This poem was dedication is signed off with the name homeism, but the visitor’s view, naïve included in the collection.’ Now we Esther Mary North Ecclesfield. as British people may think it. ‘The Pine know that Esma North was a secondary However Esma North used this form of Trees Pass from St. John’s Hill’ is a fine school teacher with success in that her name (Esma North) to sign off her descriptive poem to be appreciated by career. letter and inscribe the copy in question. Whanganui people. The second notice is a short review, This suggests to me the full name was The last six poems in the book are source not recorded, but apparently her legal name, but it may be her name presented as a sequence, written in published abroad. ‘A New Zealand by adoption, whereas North is her 1930, under the title ‘Six Songs of Poet. There is much tuneful, graceful surname by birth. Perhaps. One can Sorrow’. The first ‘De Profundis To verse in “Primroses For My Fair,” by only presume that her aunt has been her I. E.’ is a genuine cri de coeur. It is the Esma North (Harry A. [sic] Tombs. guardian officially or otherwise and that most powerful and sincere poem in the Ltd.). It is but a slender sheaf of praise Esma North financed her intended trip book. It convinces and holds up. No which Esma North (Esther Mary North to Britain from her aunt’s estate. But question death is a major theme for Ecclesfield) presents, but it is a work Esma North travelled earlier and later. Esma North. However, like many other full of great promise. It is a pleasant The letter says she is in 1931 after Aotearoa (women) poets, Esma North, feature of Ecclesfield’s verse that it so “fixing up Aunt Isabel’s affairs” going though pious and a believer in an often reflects impressions gathered in to England to study for a year. The letter afterlife does not make a point of London town, or on her trips abroad. describes the book as “a memorial to Christianity. There is an agreeable lyrical strain in my aunt” whom the dedication names The poems in this book date from the her verses, “The Song of a London Isabel Ecclesfield to whose memory the years 1915-1930. I do not find Esma Bus.” I quote one verse:- A London bus, verses are inscribed at “Silverstream, North untypical of the period, and she as evening falls [etc] In a different, Wellington, September, 1930.” Three shows characteristics in common with somewhat pathetic strain, are “Six poems are specifically to or for I. E. other poets of the 1920s, in particular Songs of Sorrow,” of which “De I have no exact dates for Esma North’s Charles Stuart Perry to compare like Profundis” and “Victory to Myself” birth or death, but it is certain she died with like. I have not been able to find strikes [sic] us as the best; but every 18 October 1968. There is no doubt that any trace of Esma North in other poem in this modest collection has its Esma North was born in Aotearoa (or in collections of the 1920s and 1930s. The own merits, and the author is to be some other overseas location distant structure of the book, chronological congratulated upon having written such from Britain) because the poem ‘The after the introductory piece suggests that graceful words…’ Song of a London Bus’ makes it clear this is her complete output for 1915- There is also a text of ’s the poet went “Around the world” to get 1930. She did however write a Jubilee poem ‘In Memory’ as given in her to London. In fact she had been in Ode for Wellington Girl’s College books, see Young Knowledge for a England already earlier. She was in 1933. different text and notes. Another light Sussex in 1922 according to the poem The 2nd edition copy Primroses For My poem is also given. ‘Wanderlust’. ‘The Song of a London Fair held by the Turnbull Library in its In the book Wellington Girls’ College Bus’ is dated London, 1922. Even more reserve collection was presented to the (1982) there is a full account of Esma

2 ...... Poetry Archive North’s student and teaching career. She Poems by George E Dewar Then swift on the wings of an unknown was principal 1938-1950. ‘In retirement urge Miss North travelled a good deal. HAMAMA The brown bush-wrens go past, However her garden and her bush The chattering flock around me surge property at Silverstream took a great There are reaches in the Westland While the first awaits the last. deal of her time as well as affording her Where the rivers surge along a great deal of enjoyment. In 1957 she Where the trees are thick and sombre Till all gathered, and then away! gave some acres of bush, including a And the sawmills sing their song, With breathless, hurrying air, very fine stand of beech, to the Forest But the song is sad and fitful – They speed like the light of the dying and Bird Society to administer as the Of a dream that cannot stay – day Ecclesfield Reserve for the benefit of And the song of Old Hamama – And leave me wondering there! the people of Upper Hutt and That will never fade away! Wellington. After a long illness Miss Yet never in vain is their hurried call North died on 18 October.’ The year is On the dim and winding seashore Their message is brief but clear – given wrongly in the book. There is beauty stretching far A light on the darkest life will fall From the swept and fretted sandhills A song on the dullest ear. Niel Wright’s The Pop Artist’s Garland: To the breakers on the bar Selected Poems 1952-2009 was recently But I hear a sound of menace And though they pass from our day and published by HeadworX, and was part In the waves that sport and play place of a New Zealand display at the Poetry And the beauty of Hamama – They go that the world might share Library, Southbank Centre, London, in That will never fade away! Their glad uplift and their softening 2011. grace He is co-founder and administrator for On the cold and lofty summits In the deep dim aisles of care. the Poetry Archive of New Zealand Where the white clouds come to rest Aotearoa. His poetry appeared in Issue There is peace and solemn stillness 14 of the online journal International When the sunset paints the west THE NURSE Literary Quarterly (USA/UK). But the peace may die in storm clouds At the dying of the day She passes so softly along And the peace of Old Hamama For the quiet of night has descended Classic New Zealand That will never fade away! And a calm o’er the weak and the strong With a hope for the morrow is blended, poetry For the marble hills eternal And so in her heart is a song Hold her beauty in their arms As her way in the soft light is wended. And her glory is her people This issue’s classic New Zealand poetry Working out her wondrous charms, Now she pauses a while on her way is by George E Dewar. Let us toil to keep her noble Just to catch a word brokenly spoken, George Edward Dewar (1891?-1969) Let us teach our hearts to pray Just to watch as a soul finds the day was a New Zealand poet, writer, That our love for old Hamama After days that were only a token, teacher, farmer, worker and First World May not ever fade away! And the perfect light banish the grey War soldier. Best remembered for his As the earth-bonds are tenderly broken. 1953 autobiographical book Chaslands about the early pioneering days there, he REVERIE How softly she smiles as she goes also wrote poetry on his experiences as By the beds of the fretful and tiring a First World War soldier and In the deep dim bush I rest awhile For she knows, and they feel that she contributed widely to newspapers. Away from the haunts of men knows One collection of his poetry, The Song Where the fantail flits in the leafy aisle In their hearts they are ever desiring of the Lowburn Punt, was printed by And the ’possum had made his den. The patience that gathers and glows Noel Farr Hoggard’s Handcraft Press in On the brow they are humbly admiring. 1944. Where the spotless white of the A publisher’s note describes the poems pigeon’s breast Oh! be steadfast, though many of these as a ‘token of remembrance’ to his days Is set in a field of green, Who knew not of peace till they found spent teaching in Otago and Nelson. Where the robin peeps from her mossy you He has further uncollected poems and nest May forget you, at home and at ease, stories in New Zealand Outdoors And the wide-eyed owl is seen. May seem blind to the stresses that Magazine. bound you, Dewar had an acute interest in native ’Tis the eye of affliction that sees birds as his poem ‘Reverie’ shows. The glory that God sets around you.

...... 3 Winter 2012 OH! SOFTLY FALLS THE NIGHT So let me carry with me still magazines and Pirie has written a bio- Some part of all the glow, bibliography for her. The National Oh! softly falls the night, That shone from every rock and hill Library of New Zealand holds copyright And hushed are all the trees; To warm the hearts below! deposits of these booklets: While dying with the light – Still let my heart and memory thrill The homing call of the bees; And darkened days with sunshine fill - Young Moon: Collected and The burden of the fight Like those I used to know. Uncollected Poems from The Bulletin Gives place to thoughtful ease 1920-1930. When softly falls the night, (Poems taken from Song of the Lowburn - A Golden Ship: Uncollected Poems And hushed are all the trees. Punt and Other Verses, printed by The for Children. Handcraft Press, Wellington, 1944) - The Wind Boy: Uncollected Poems Oh! sweet the night’s repose; 1924-1941. The clear and tranquil air - Ivy Gibbs: A Bio-bibliography by Renews the brave red rose, Children’s author Mark Pirie. And makes the lily fair; My purpose softly grows – Margaret Mahy dies Ivy Olive Gibbs (1886?-1966) is an A blossom born of care – internationally published poet and Oh! sweet the night’s repose, children’s writer of the period 1920-50. The clear and tranquil air. Children’s author Margaret Mahy died Little information is available on her this month. Mahy was an internationally early life but PANZA thinks she was Then shadows slowly fade celebrated author of books, children’s born in England and moved out to And bravely breaks the day stories and children’s verse. Her poems Australia as a child or young woman Then bud and bloom and blade such as ‘Bubble Trouble’ were included before arriving in New Zealand in 1926. Rejoice in garlands gay, in national and international Gibbs’ poetry (inspired by Ragtime And my resolve seems made anthologies, including ’s music, fairy tales and Romantic English To live and grow and stay 121 New Zealand Poems (2005), Our pastoral poets) was widely published in When shadows slowly fade Favourite Poems: New Zealanders Australia before New Zealand. She And bravely breaks the day. Choose Their Favourite Poems (2007), appeared in various Australian papers The Quentin Blake Book of Nonsense and journals in the 1920s such as the Verse (1994), The Puffin Book of Sydney Morning Herald, Green Room BACK TO THE HILLS Nonsense Verse (1996) and Pumpkin May, Birth: A Little Journal of Grumpkin: Nonsense Poems from Australian Poetry, the Triad, the Upon the plains the sun is bright Around the World (2011). Australian Woman’s Mirror and the And surely they are fair! Tessa Duder edited her Word Witch Sydney Bulletin. The wheat is clothed in gleaming white collection of ‘magical verse’ in 2009. In New Zealand, her poems were No tree or shrub is bare; PANZA member Mark Pirie remembers published in The New Zealand Radio But still my thought in wayward flight reading Margaret’s contributions to The Record, The New Zealand Mercury and Returns to Central’s wondrous light, New Zealand School Journal and books The New Zealand Herald. Quentin Pope Its gladsome day and mystic night, like A Lion in the Meadow as a child at selected her for his anthology Kowhai And all who knew me there! Wadestown School. He greatly enjoyed Gold in 1930 and John O’Dreams Margaret’s work. [Helen Longford] for the anthology A And far my memory reaches down PANZA extends their sympathies to Gift Book of New Zealand Verse (1931). The misty path of Time Margaret’s friends and family at this In the 1930s, she was on the committee Away beyond the crowded town time. of the New Zealand Women Writers’ Away to reaches russet brown, and Artists’ Society (1932-34) in Where morning sets a golden crown Wellington. On hills I loved to climb, Two books of her poetry were published New publication of Ivy in England: Six Days in a Pensive Mood Oh! there I see a friendly smile Gibbs’ poems (Ilfracombe: Arthur H. Stockwell, UK, And grasp a friendly hand 1949, no item details found) and The A hundred brothers every mile Day is in a Pensive Mood (Ilfracombe: Are spread across the land Mark Pirie and Original Books have Arthur H. Stockwell, UK, 1949, 26 page A hearty helper, free from guile recently published three archival booklet). Significantly the latter book is Will meet me at the broken stile booklets of Ivy Gibbs’ poems collected held by The Hocken Library in And both will understand. from anthologies, newspapers and Dunedin, showing a further connection with New Zealand.

4 ...... Poetry Archive On 3 October 1966, Gibbs died in the line: ‘I sincerely believe that the best Auckland. A service was held for her at New publication by criticism is that which is amusing the Waikumete Chapel Crematorium. PANZA member: and poetic; not that cold and algebraic PANZA recognises Gibbs as a kind which, under the pretext significant and still largely ARTIST: Artworks and of explaining everything, displays unrecognised New Zealand poet and neither hate nor love...’ Thus the best chose to celebrate National Poetry Day words by Michael account of a painting can well be a 2012 by posting a classic New Zealand sonnet or an elegy. poem by Ivy Gibbs on their website: O’Leary Of similar mind, the American painter Fairfield Porter put it another way: Ivy Gibbs ‘Aesthetics should be, or I think I prefer to say, is, a collection of personal YOUNG MOON remarks, avoiding systems and extrapolations...’ As soon as yellow day leaves the dull In attempting a critical introduction to town this sampling of Michael O’Leary’s I love to see the small white moon look diverse visual/verbal output, I would— down channeling the benevolent spirits of From evening’s clear and lilac-tinted Baudelaire and Porter—embrace and sky. celebrate the effects and distortions of As shyly as a girl wakened to love, the work but without, I hope, distorting As frightened as a little quivering dove, the work further. Instead I would offer Reluctant, yet in haste its wings to try the reader/viewer a few vistas from the Upon the blue and shining leagues of periphery of this munificent orchard, space. and corral a few thoughts appropriate to I love her little white dream-haunted such a zone of carefully considered face. moves and virtuosic mishaps (‘what is I wonder what she thinks when, from a the life of the mind but a history of tree, interesting mistakes,’ wrote Hugh She peeps in wistful curiosity Michael O’Leary (pictured above, Kenner) so that we might follow Down on our little green and glowing c1970s) has just published a book of his Michael O’Leary on his ’eccentric earth. artwork over the last 40 years. orbit’, to borrow an astrological I think at times I’ve seen a gentle mirth It has an introduction by art curator term well-suited to his artistic progress, Shake her as lightly as a bee a flower, Gregory O’Brien and was launched at his trajectory through the Seeking his treasure through a transient John Quilter’s Bookshop, Ghuznee inner and outer world of things. hour. Street, Wellington, on Saturday 21 July Needless to say, Michael is on the side I’ve often wondered, little wistful moon, 2012. of the makers rather than the annotators, Who is your lover. For once, far and Here is part of O’Brien’s introduction to elaborators and explainers. He places high, the book. The title of the essay is a nod himself firmly in the grand tradition of I heard the young wind near your lilac to Maurice Duggan’s story ‘O’Leary’s artists who invent their own tradition. sky Orchard’: That said, he has inherited an Tenderly piping a thin silver tune! assortment of character traits from O'LEARY’S ORCHARD Romanticism. Like Rimbaud or Poem © Ivy Gibbs 1925 Mallarme, he is capable of the ecstasies When Charles Barr wrote that ‘all of artistic creation and a euphoric (From The Bulletin, vol.46 no.2389 criticism involves distortion,’ he immersion in nature or human company 26 November 1925, p.7) probably wasn’t thinking of the kind of or music (the Beatles, Kurt Cobain...). distortion Jimi Hendrix utilised in Like Yayoi Kusama, from time to time ‘Voodoo Chile’ or ‘Star Spangled he finds himself ‘obliterated in the Banner’. Forget about the small metal dancing swarm of fireflies’. When the box on the stage floor, equidistant need arises, an inner need, he can also between the Fender Stratocaster and the rally the troops, shake the battlements, Marshall Stack. Barr was talking of the blow the trumpet—just like Ken Bolton: gnarly, misshapen kind of criticism ‘Unemployed at last!’ Or, again, like against which Charles Baudelaire railed Kusama: ‘Love Forever Girls! over a century earlier. In his 1846 Adolescence is on the way!’ Or review of the Paris Salon, the Mallarme: ‘A lovely drunkenness father of modern art-writing laid it on enlists me to raise, though the vessel

...... 5 Winter 2012 lists, this toast on high and from the 19th century to the present Dr Niel Wright - Archivist without fear. / Solitude, rocky shoal, day. (04) 475 8042 bright star...’ The Archive also contains photos and Dr Michael O’Leary - Archivist paintings of NZ poets, publisher’s (04) 905 7978 Gregory O’Brien catalogues, poetry ephemera, posters, email: [email protected] reproductions of book covers and other Title: ARTIST: Artworks and words memorabilia related to NZ poetry and Visits by appointment only Author: Michael O’Leary poetry performance. ISBN: 978-1-86942-132-8 Current PANZA Members: Price: $50.00 Wanted Mark Pirie (HeadworX), Roger Steele Extent: 60 pages NZ poetry books (old & new) (Steele Roberts Ltd), Michael O’Leary Format: 260mmx208mm Other NZ poetry items i.e. critical books (Earl of Seacliff Art Workshop) and Publication: July 2012 on NZ poetry, anthologies of NZ poetry, Niel Wright (Original Books). Publisher: Earl of Seacliff Art poetry periodicals and broadsheets, Workshop poetry event programmes, posters Current Friends of PANZA: Paul and/or prints of NZ poets or their poetry Thompson, Gerrard O’Leary, Vaughan books. Rapatahana and the New Zealand Poetry Society. Donate to PANZA DONT THROW OUT OLD NZ through PayPal POETRY! SEND IT TO PANZA PANZA is a registered charitable trust

PANZA will offer: You can now become a friend of • Copies of NZ poetry books for private PANZA or donate cash to help us research and reading purposes. continue our work by going to • Historical information for poets, http://pukapukabooks.blogspot.com and writers, journalists, academics, accessing the donate button – any researchers and independent scholars of donation will be acknowledged. NZ poetry. • Photocopying for private research purposes. • Books on NZ poetry and literary Recently received history, and CD-ROMs of NZ poetry donations and literature • CDs of NZ poets reading their work • Inspirational talks on NZ poets Roger Steele – 15 titles. • Video/DVD/film screenings of documentaries on NZ poets Jenny Powell – Ticket Home: 30 Poems • Readings/book launches by NZ poets by Jenny Powell. • Educational visits for primary schools, intermediates, colleges, universities and PANZA kindly thanks these donators to creative writing schools/classes. the archive. • The Northland Writers’ Walk (in planning)

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

PANZA contains Contact Details Poetry Archive of NZ Aotearoa A unique Archive of NZ published (PANZA) poetry, with around five thousand titles 1 Woburn Road, Northland, Wellington PO Box 6637, Marion Square, Wellington

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