. . . Poetry Notes

Winter 2013 Volume 4, Issue 2

ISSN 1179-7681 Quarterly Newsletter of PANZA

Elliott does not appear in any New Inside this Issue Welcome Zealand anthology that I’m aware of, but he is listed like a number of other Hello and welcome to issue 14 of New Zealand poets of this period in Welcome Poetry Notes, the newsletter of PANZA, Authors’ Week 1 the newly formed Poetry Archive of 1936: Annals of New Zealand Mark Pirie on James H New Zealand Aotearoa. Literature: being a List of New Zealand Elliott (1879-1955) Poetry Notes will be published quarterly Authors and their works with and will include information about introductory essays and verses, page 55: Classic New Zealand goings on at the Archive, articles on “Elliott, James Hawthorn [sic] Random poetry by John J Gallagher historical New Zealand poets of interest, Rhymes (v) 1924.” 4 occasional poems by invited poets and a The National Library of New Zealand’s Comment on W S Marris record of recently received donations to catalogue credits him with six books by Niel Wright 5 the Archive. from 1924-1950. The name James H Articles and poems are copyright in the Elliott does not appear in New Zealand Obituary: Sarah Broom names of the individual authors. Biographies at the National Library, but 6 The newsletter will be available for free there is a brief Obituary in the New A tribute to Helen download from the Poetry Archive’s Zealand Herald, 13 July 1955. Longford website: A Tapuhi search shows correspondence 8 from Elliott for J C Andersen’s Author’s http://poetryarchivenz.wordpress.com Comment on Angus Week 1936 bibliography. McMaster A Papers Past search brings up further 9 pieces about Elliott, namely book Comment on Mark Pirie on reviews in The Evening Post and the The Tuapeka Times James H Elliott Star, racing club news, shipping passenger lists and land Further comment on purchases. There is a further review of George Clarke his final book, Odes & Episodes in the 10 Wellington writer and publisher, Auckland Star, 2 December 1950, Mark Pirie discusses the Waikato poet included as a newspaper cutting in the Donate to PANZA through James H Elliott, who wrote between the PayPal th Alexander Turnbull Library’s copy of early and middle-part of the 20 Elliott’s Odes & Episodes.

century. Recently received donations Elliott’s Books The poet James H (Hawthorne) Elliott

is an interesting New Zealand poet in His six books all in expensive hard-back About the Poetry Archive the bardic tradition, that dates back to editions printed for the author that the likes of John Barr of Craigilee in collected over 500 poems (including PANZA and Tom Bracken, and takes in some long examples of narrative verse) PO Box 6637 writers like Ernest L Eyre up to more are: Marion Square recent figures like Sam Hunt, Andrew 1. Random Rhymes, 205 pages, 20cm, Wellington 6141 Fagan, Michael O’Leary or Simon 66 poems. Auckland, N.Z.: Whitcombe Williamson. & Tombs, 1924.

...... Winter 2013 2. Rhymes and Rigmaroles 147 pages, refused a court petition to rekindle Literary Style 20cm, 65 poems. Hamilton, N.Z.: Leigh’s conjugal rights. They divorced in Printed at the office of the Waikato and 1930. The couple had two children Elliott writes, as mentioned, in the bardic King Country Press, [1939]. Turnbull according to his WWI file at Archives tradition. He is an admirer of Robbie copy inscribed by the author. New Zealand (now unrestricted). Burns, James Beattie’s The Minstrel and 3. Idylls of an Idler 172 pages, 19cm, His son Edgar Elliott served in Crete other classical and Romantic poets such 107 poems. Hamilton, N.Z.: Waikato during World War II according to his as Sir Walter Scott. and King Country Press, 1942. poem on the subject. His daughter, Mrs He is versatile and can write in various 4. A Rhymer’s Sketchbook 177 pages, Helen Laird, lived in Auckland. forms: ballads, narrative tales, Māori and 19cm, 96 poems. Hamilton, N.Z.: Returning from war in 1919, he was a folk legends in verse, fairy tale verse, Printed by Waikato and King Country member of a local hydroelectric board shorter lyric poetry and light verse, Press, 1943. Turnbull copy inscribed by appointed to draw up boundaries for the elegies, popular verse on racing, horses the author. Te Awamutu district (New Zealand and country-life, and sentimental pieces 5. Poetic Potpourri 167 pages, 19cm, Herald, 6 February 1919). picturing the Waikato. 107 poems. Hamilton [N.Z.]: Waikato Throughout the ’20s and ’30s he must’ve He is adept as a storyteller relating tales and King Country Press, 1946. Turnbull received/inherited some family fortune. from overseas characters and other copy inscribed by the author. Elliott traveled like a modern Ulysses travelers he has met, from America to 6. Odes & Episodes 166 pages, 18cm, across North America (California, Texas, India to New Zealand. His narrative tales 111 poems. Hamilton [N.Z.]: Printed at Arizona, New Mexico, Tennessee, like ‘Liza Lee of Hutewai’, ‘Island the office of the Waikato and King Mississippi, East St Louis, Wisconsin, Dreams’ and ‘Rose Dillon’ among others Country Press, 1950. Turnbull copy Alabama and Chicago), Canada are compelling. inscribed by the author. (Vancouver, Niagara and Ontario), South He has his shortcomings. Each book has America (the Andes, Chile, Peru and a hard-luck story about bad reviews Biography Argentina), North Africa and the Middle received and one has a poem replying to East (Nineveh, Egypt) and visited a note from the Petone Library reading Elliott was born in Northern Ireland on London, Australia, Scotland, South and returning two of his books. His 9 January 1879. His childhood alluded to Africa (Durban, Transvaal), and Ireland. poetry can seem flat, overly sentimental, in poems was spent in ‘sweet He also traveled to the sub-continent trite, clichéd and dull at times, but he is Ballyholme’ in Northern Ireland and at (India) and Asia (Japan, Singapore, competent enough. He has produced a some later point in Lower Manhattan, China, Penang, Siam) via the ship body of variable work worthy of some New York. It is safe to assume that his “Gorgon” a new service in the 1930s attention. family are of Irish origin and may have connecting Singapore to West Australia. Critics may react poorly to what comes moved to America briefly. Outside of travel and literary pursuits, he across as a racially superior European Elliott left in search of his fortune, first co-founded the Waipa Racing Club and attitude and there is non-sympathy for taking in Australia’s gold-rush the Hamilton Racing Club. He was a women and suffragettes, but this verse mountains before heading for New lover of horses but not of Governments. could well be written as narrative Zealand. In one of his poems, ‘Lines to A. S. monologues portraying the politics and He arrived in New Zealand in 1905 first Wallace’, he declines nomination for the men of his period and may not be the farming in the North Auckland region. In Waikato electorate preferring the call of author’s own views. the Waikato he managed the stock the Muse and ‘the broad highway’. His Aside from his bad reviews, his verse department of the Farmers’ Co-operative official declining of the nomination is in had support from fellow poet and book Auctioneering Company Ltd in Hamilton the New Zealand Herald, 24 May 1922. critic for the Evening Post “Quillus” for eight years, then became a stock As a writer, he contributed letters and [A F T Chorlton]. Chorlton writes about agent on his own behalf. He bought verses to the Waipa Post and the Waikato him in his memoirs, The Wandering crown land himself in December 1913 Times and was the official “bard” of the School: Memories in Prose and Verse (Auckland Star, 20 December) farming Hamilton Caledonian Society. (1960) as well as in The Evening Post, in Te Awamutu. He died in 1955 aged 76 years, leaving 2 November 1944, 17 February 1945 (for In the New Zealand Gazette, 29 June no reputation as a poet and no ‘putting Hamilton [poets and writers] 1918, No. 87, p. 2239, he is called up for subsequent interest since his death. conspicuously on the map’) and again on military service and his poem from that Bookseller Rowan Gibbs (Smith’s 23 June 1945. This friendship is also year ‘Lines Written in a Camp’ (in Bookshop) notes seeing his books around recorded by Niel Wright in his Account Random Rhymes) implies that it was near the second-hand trade. There is no of the Comic Poet A F T Chorlton the end of the war (around October) so subsequent mention of him either in the (1998). Another writer that was in he may not have seen action before modern history of the Te Awamutu contact with Elliott and to whom he Peace was declared in November. region published in 1984. dedicates verses is “J.C. [John Elliott married Leigh Euphrosine Collins His burial was a cremation, and his ashes Christie?]”. A fellow Hamilton writer on 23 December 1913, and they later interned at the Waikumete Cemetery also known to Elliott is Marcus G. B. separated. By 1929 and 1930 he had (Auckland). James whose “dramatic phantasie” In a

2 ...... Poetry Archive Persian Garden appeared in 1945 printed And many another left Keep me in your thought always, by the Waikato Times. In vigour still to grace Oft shall mine be homeward straying, In one of Elliott’s American poems, he That tree it helped adorn, shall miss In that spirit land, let’s fancy relates a gangster’s death, a rival leader The fallen from its place. We can feel each other near; (city florist) to Al Capone’s gang who And we’ll tune our hearts to welcome shot him dead. Acorn trees are more American than In that peace for which we’re praying, I will now provide brief examples of his New Zealand suggesting his earlier When we’ll stride once more together work. childhood in America. The following On the road that halted here. The following are typical of his shorter love lyric is almost a companion to lyrics, reminiscent of American poets Eileen Duggan’s ‘The Tide Runs Up the But if I be, after all, Robert Frost or Ella Wheeler Wilcox (the Wairau’ and appears to be from a In the ranks that lie forsaken, latter as also suggested by an Auckland woman’s point-of-view: Never more to hear reveille, Star critic, 12 July 1924): Never more in line to fall, A LOVER’S SONG ’Mid regret, let this remembrance UNDER THE STARLIGHT In your heart some joy awaken, The snow is on Pirongia Till the last I heard the voices Night-time, under the starlight, The south wind chilly blows, From my own New Zealand call. Youth and Love, But in its teeth I laugh, for love How near, draweth the far light A mantle round me throws. Another shorter lyric called ‘The Of Heav’n above. Shearing’ is further evidence of his Let friends forsake and fortune frown, localization of his New Zealand verses, Onward, wearily winding I step across the stile giving a rugged quality missing from Nigh to the snow, And in my sanctuary greet much of his more sentimentalized, more Yet still, back yonder finding A benefactor’s smile. American work; this too could be said Warmth in the ember’s glow. of some of Eileen Duggan’s tougher Beyond the unromantic world work in the 1940s: ———— I pierce the clouds to see A realm of heavenly loveliness THE SHEARING THE TURN OF THE ROAD Embraced in mystery. The bleating sheep in primal fleece Here do I, faltering, stand There’s snow upon Pirongia arrayed, At a turn in life’s broad highway, And life is steeped in gall, Forth from its range of quiet hill and For wisdom points to the road straight on, But love’s the magic recipe glen But my feet to the side will stray. That neutralizes all. Comes at the muster—timid and afraid, To stand imprisoned in the shearing pen. Allured from the bustling throng Other songs at times are written à la By a dim and distant star, Robbie Burns of ‘Tam O’Shanter’ like Defenceless to the tyrant hand it goes, Where men seek dreams in its shadowy ‘Maggie-o’(in Random Rhymes) which And trembling meets the fury of his beams has a rollicking lilt: ‘The fiddle-o—the blade; And the graves of the seekers are. fiddle-o-- / An’ a lass around the middle- No pity follows, as he outward throws o / I’d something else to think upon / It naked to the wind. It is his trade. Is it madness? Ah! who can tell? Than the queerness o’life’s riddle-o.’. For ever I seem possessed His lyrics can be moving such as this Awhile the shearling cowers beneath the Of eyes that see but a crazy world poem about a soldier’s farewell blast, And a soul that finds no rest. suggesting he has localized his verses to But soon a new protecting growth suit his adopted homeland: appears ———— That turns the storm’s assault unheeded THE SOLDIER’S FAREWELL past, LINES ON THE DEATH OF (Song) And with it too, all terror of the shears. A FRIEND ’Tis at last the parting hour So when the year revolves and off is The oaken branches shake And from all I love I’m going, clipped As though the whisper calls Where the fires of hate are flaming Another fleece, inured it fronts the Of Autumn breath and down to earth And the blood of millions pour, storm, A loosened acorn falls. All the hopes that once we fondled, Now realizing that its back is stripped All the joys we dreamed of sowing, For means to keep some needier body Must await another Springtime warm. When this crimson harvest’s o’er.

...... 3 Winter 2013 The short lyric ‘My Dark Blood Stirs’ Mark Pirie, author of this article, is a Gallagher retired to Oamaru with his again shows his willingness to localize New Zealand poet, editor, publisher and wife Catherine. He died in 1931 aged his verses in his adopted land, this time archivist for PANZA. 88. His burial took place in the old in favour of Māori waiata (also a theme Oamaru Cemetery. in the work of Michael O’Leary b. 1950 who is part-Māori on his maternal side): Classic New Zealand Poems by John J Gallagher

MY DARK BLOOD STIRS poetry OAMARU

Although enriched with Irish blood There is a town on North Otago’s coast, I sometimes think, through me This issue’s classic New Zealand poetry As lovely a town as New Zealand can There coursed in ages past, a flood is by John J Gallagher (1843?-1931). boast; Of darker ancestry; Gallagher, a North Otago poet, was a On its east lies the great Pacific so blue, At least I know, when Maoris sing Catholic farmer who lived at Kakanui That dashes its waters before Oamaru. The lilts I heard to-day, North in the Oamaru District, a place My heart attunes its zither string, that held a special place in his heart. His Oh! for the town that gave me birth, My limbs in rhythm sway. wife was Catherine Gallagher and the Oh! for the healthiest place on earth; couple had eight children. Its streets are all so fine and wide, Oh people, happy in the light At Kakanui he was associated with the There’s nothing but health on every side. Of laughter, love and song, Totara School, serving on their Whene’er from care thy smiles invite, committee from 1891-1903, initially as Its houses are built of a stone that is How often do I long secretary and from 1894 as chairman. found To step across the harsh divide Gallagher organized and conducted In all the neighboring district around; That caste between has thrown, music programmes and recitations at And all those buildings so white and so And for a season at thy side Totara School concerts. pretty, Breathe nature’s pure ozone. Gallagher’s poetry appeared in the Give Oamaru the name of the “White North Otago Times, and he often recited Stone City.” I’ll end with one of his more successful in public. In his later years, he was an lyrics again alluding to New Zealand as ‘old favourite’ at Totara Hall and Thou wert the scene of my schoolboy his home of homes: Kakanui Oddfellows functions. days, He was also associated with concerts What else can I do but write thy praise. WHEN DAY IS DONE given by the Kakanui Orchestral In thee live my friends and comrades Society. true, When day is done Gallagher’s poetry of place, patriotic That endears thee to my heart, sweet And down the sun is descending and stirring, was typical of the turn of Oamaru. Behind him draws the night’s curtain the 20th century period where poets o’er the dome, sought to raise national consciousness John Gallagher, Kakanui, Sept. 16, 1896 How welcome ’tis with their pen. To one from labour wending, While expressing his loyalty to the (North Otago Times, 25 September To greet the lights of Home. British Empire, Gallagher also shows 1896) localization of content and pride in his Oftimes afar, birthplace. This is something not often SPRING When other beams have beckoned noted in Colonial and 19th century poets And dazzled for a moment,—o’er their (often born elsewhere) making his work When stormy winter’s fury’s past, rays of interest to the period. With its ice, its snow, and rain, I’ve watched arise His daughter Rose Ann Gallagher was Then spring her glorious shadows cast One flame that in that second also a poet and entered the New Zealand O’er mountain, hill, and plain. Dimmed ev’ry rival blaze. Tablet Christmas poetry competition in 1896, where she received Fair smiling skies, and fields of green, So happy he commendation. She later died young at Greet the eye where’er we turn; Who to the harbour turning 16 in 1899. While nature views this peaceful scene, When life’s vast ocean he has ceased to During the First World War, And urges us her laws to learn. roam; Gallagher’s son James John served and Above the port, Gallagher was associated with patriotic High in the trees the wild birds sing Shall find in welcome burning military farewells and welcomes to Their pleasant notes so sweet and gay; The Pilot light of Home. departing and returning soldiers at Songs that herald the approach of spring, Kakanui. With the bright and sunny day.

4 ...... Poetry Archive The trees, the shrubs, the pretty flowers, And his pleasant talk as we traced the Nile Over the home of the free and the home All, all burst out again, On the maps, the school walls adorning. of the brave, When spring pours forth her cooling That the sons of Great Britain for e’er showers But past and gone are all those joys, may be seen, In place of winter’s rain. We sigh for them in vain; True to their flag, and true to their The happy days when we were boys Queen. Then welcome be the glorious spring, We ne’er shall see again. With its azure skies o’erhead; John J. Gallagher, Kakanui, 28th July, When the birds their songs of joy doth J. Gallagher, Kakanui, September 10th, 1897. sing, 1896. And winter’s storms are fled. (North Otago Times, 3 August 1897) (North Otago Times, 15 September John J. Gallagher, Kakanui, Sept. 4th, 1896) OAMARU 1897. Down by Pacific’s mighty shore, (North Otago Times, 18 September THE BRITISH FLAG Adorned by Nature’s hands, 1897) Where the ocean foams and the breakers The flag of Great Britain that floats on roar SCHOOL the breeze, The town of Oamaru stands. That majestically waves o’er all lands Oh the happiest days of all our life and all seas; To the westward lie the hills, Were the days when we were at school; Triumphant is seen in all parts of the Beneath it lies the bay; When we were free from worldly strife, world, While all a vision fills And obeyed the teacher’s rule. ’Tis the emblem of freedom where e’er As bright as the dawning day. ’tis unfurled. Those were the times I remember with And the sons of Great Britain when The smiling azure skies joy, danger is nigh O’er it their glories fling, The times that will ne’er come again Will fight for that flag, will conquer or While sounds of joy arise When many a man was then a boy, die, Like songs of birds in spring. Well used to the strap and the cane. Will raise it on high on the battle red field, Its stately buildings white, We learnt our tasks with a will every day, Will die for to save it, but never will Nestle midst foliage green, The harder they were, the harder we yield. Then, who desires to view a sight worked; More peaceful and serene? And we never once heard our teacher say The flag that’s been carried to victory so That the work he gave us we ever oft, No town to me’s more fair shirked. The flag that Lord Nelson hung proudly Than that city by the sea; aloft May sunshine hover there, Our spelling, grammar, history, all we When in the midst of his glory, the And sweet tranquility. knew, power of his might Our reading, geography, and sums of all He bravely went forth, England’s foemen John J. Gallagher, Kakanui, January sorts— to fight; 15th, 1898. And after we’d finished what we had to How proudly it waved on that glorious do, day, (North Otago Times, 21 January 1898) We ended the day with schoolboy sport. Midst the tumult and smoke of that great battle fray At cricket and football our play hours we And ’tis sacred to Britons, who in him Comment on spent took pride, In the heat of the day or the cool of the For beneath it he lived, and beneath it he W S Marris eve; died. And these and other pastimes a pleasure lent Beneath its folds many a hero has died, AN ACCOUNT OF THE To the school and grounds we were loth In foreign lands, or on the great ocean AOTEAROA POET W S MARRIS to leave. wide, by Niel Wright Who for his country has bravely met Full well I remember our teacher’s smile death, I was aware of the name W S Marris as As he met us at the door in the morning; Fervently prayed with his latest breath an Aotearoa poet because two That that glorious flag forever may wave, translations by him of Odes of Horace ...... 5 Winter 2013 are given in [Canterbury] College society whose existence he inferred in come up in their Tapuhi collection of Rhymes (1923) pages 79-80, with a note his book, The Anglo-American private papers. on page 131, reading “Rectius Vives Establishment. According to Quigley, From reviews Rowan Gibbs got the Page 79 This and the next ode are from the “Rhodes secret society”, a group of impression that Marris’s Homer is in ‘The Odes of Horace in English Verse,’ imperial federalists founded by Cecil prose, and that may have been the by W. S. Marris (Oxford University Rhodes, developed into the Milner popular assessment, but I have examined Press, 1912). Marris was junior and Group after 1901 the copy of Marris’s Iliad in the Turnbull senior scholar and graduated B.A. at http://powerbase.info/index.php/ Library. It has a short preface by Marris Canterbury College in 1892. He Milner_Group and an card advertisement stuck into the afterwards entered the Indian Civil back cover, both of which make it Service where he won distinction and is photo perfectly clear that Marris’s Homer was now Sir William Marris, K.C.I.E., http://tiny.cc/9sxytw written and published as blank verse, as Governor of the United Provinces.” indeed it is justifiably so in blank verse This note will have been written by Writings (by date): paragraphs of a sort seen in Shakespeare O.T.J. Alpers. * and other classic dramatists. So when in Quilter’s Bookshop recently The Odes of Horace. By Horace, No New Zealand poet matches W S buying a small book I noticed another (translated Sir William Marris). Marris’s body of poetry for volume and Horace: The Odes for $10, translations Published London, New York [etc.]: prestige, admittedly translations, but by W S Marris. I recognised it at once for H.Frowde, 1912 (books I-IV and the George Chapman owes his surviving what it was and bought it therewith. Saecular hymn translated into English reputation as a poet to his Homer A Google search for Sir William Marris verse). translations and Alexander Pope governor of UP brings up besides other survived in comfort as a poet on the hits two profiles, the Wikipedia based on Translations from the Greek anthology. income from his translation of Homer (in the other with additional information on Aligarh [Uttar Pradesh] : Bharat which other poets contributed as well). his later career and on his books. Bandhu Press, 1919. Many English language poets of name W S Marris was born at Aston, produced major verse translations, e.g. Warwickshire, England in 1873, but was Civil government for Indian students William Morris, Binyon; and as educated in New Zealand to graduate (with James Wilford Garner). distinguished a prose author as Dorothy level. I am indebted to Rowan Gibbs for Calcutta, S.C. Sanial & Co., 1921. Sayers owes her standing as poet to her the following material sent by email: fine verse translation of Dante’s Catullus. By Catullus, (translated Sir Commedia. Sir William looks an interesting chap William Marris). Published Oxford: John Buchan was on Milner’s staff and Clarendon Press, 1924. presumably also a member of the Milner bio on Wikipedia group. So W S Marris was in good http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_S The Odyssey of Homer. By Homer, literary company. inclair_Marris (translated Sir William Marris). The only New Zealand anthology that Published London, New York [etc.]: picks up W S Marris as a poet is Was at CUC with Alpers - Cheerful Oxford University Press, 1925. [Canterbury] College Rhymes (1923), yesterdays p.66: one of the editors of which was O T J ...there were two men whom the The speeches of Sir William Marris: as Alpers, who in fact seems also to be the College still proudly regards as its most governor of the united provinces only literary historian/memoirist to distinguished graduates. One was Sir of Agra and Oudh : December 1922- mention him. William Marris, Governor of the January 1928. Mysore, [India]: United Provinces in India. When the Wesleyan Mission Press, 1928. following year he “topped” the Indian Civil Service Examination by a lead of India: the political problem. Obituary: Sarah nearly a thousand marks-a feat till then Nottingham, 1930 (University college, Broom at least unprecedented-and when some Nottingham.; Cust foundation lecture). years later he published his translations DREAMTIGERS: into graceful verse of the Odes of The Iliad of Homer. By Homer, I.M. SARAH BROOM Horace and the lyrics of Catullus, I (translated Sir William Marris). by Jack Ross basked mildly in his reflected glory. Published London, New York [etc.]: The other was Sir Ernest Rutherford, Oxford University Press, 1934. My friend Sarah Broom died on O.M. ... [ends Thursday, 18 April 2013, finally losing her long battle with cancer. Member of the “Milner Group” -- The Turnbull Library has the Horace and It’s not that the news was unexpected. The Milner Group was the name given the Iliad but not any other of Marris’s Sarah’s struggle with the disease had by historian Carroll Quigley to a secret books, though his name does variously

6 ...... Poetry Archive been protracted and courageous, but – well-rounded, British. By the time the driftwood sculpture to evoke its though none of us really wanted to book eventually appeared, though, it magnificent setting at the head of the admit it – there was never any real was a very different proposition. Quite a Manukau Harbour. prospect of a cure. Month after month, few of those earlier poems remained, We had a nice chat about that; about, year after year, we received emails but they had been supplemented by a also, the great success of her book, both telling us of the latest experimental section of poems about her disease – here and in the UK, where it had been program she was on, the latest series of wilder, stranger poems, culminating in published simultaneously by Carcanet flights overseas to try one more wonder the title piece “Tigers at Awhitu”: Press (characteristically, Sarah asked drug. me if I’d like a copy of the British As a young mother, Sarah knew that tiger, why do you hide? edition to go with the New Zealand one every moment with her children and – she knew that with my bibliographic family was precious. She never faltered my fur is matted obsessiveness, I’d like to have both or flagged in that duty, tempting though and mangy, my face versions on my shelves: and so I do). it must have seemed at times just to give is raw, there’s red I remember also, shortly before her up and let go. She never did. under my claws collection appeared, when it had been accepted by both publishers, but was tiger, have you killed? still in that limbo that poetry books inhabit before they come bursting out no, not for weeks on the scene like phoenixes, I invited of stony days Sarah to take part in a poetry reading at and vagrant nights Massey Albany. The reading was for our stage one tiger, why do you cry? Creative Writing class (the other readers were Jen Crawford, Thérèse Lloyd, Lee I cannot say Posna and Michael Steven). Sarah admitted to me that it was her first Sarah Broom, 2010 I think my heart formal poetry reading, which should was left unwatched give you some idea of how long she’d I first met Sarah about ten years or so and opened, been waiting for her work to be ago, when she came to take up a Post- secretly, rashly, recognised. She must have got a lot doctoral fellowship at Massey Albany. like a flower in the night more habituated to poetry readings after She’d just finished the PhD research that – from 2010 onwards, the name which would eventually become her sleep, tiger, sleep Sarah Broom was on every list of up- first book, Contemporary British and sleep and let it be and-coming young poets in New Irish Poetry: An Introduction (2006), Zealand. and I suppose I was one of the few tiger hearts can take a lot I’ll never forget what she did on that people there who’d even heard of some first occasion, though. She started off by of the poets she’d been studying. We of love reading Stevie Smith’s famous poem shared a love of craggy British poet “Not Waving But Drowning”, then Peter Reading – it was, however, she [p.66] segued into her own response to the who converted me to the great and poem, “All my life” (now available on powerful Paul Muldoon. Is the tiger cancer? No, nothing as the Tuesday Poem website). It seems She left to take up a lectureship in simple and reductionist as that – but it is somehow terribly apposite now, more English at Otago University, but gave it (perhaps) a symbol of the unpredictable even than it did at the time: up after a year. I must confess that it forces of nature: those which smile or wasn’t till then that I understood that, frown on us seemingly at whim. The and yes he was while literary-critical research was power of the poem lies in its drowning, not waving, now we know, important to her – and she was indeed a suggestiveness, its unpredictability: and isn’t it hard to tell? very fine critic, as I said in my Poetry “And when I have found enough New Zealand review of her book – what wildness / I lie down right inside it / and In Memory of she wanted above all to be was a sleep” [p.69]. SARAH BROOM (1972-2013) published poet in her own right. I saw Sarah last at the Korero exhibition I remember her showing me the initial last year. Twenty poets had been Wife of Michael drafts of what would become Tigers at matched with twenty artists, each of Awhitu (2010), and my slightly them taking inspiration from a single Mother of ambivalent reaction to it. Her poems poem. The artist Sarah had been paired Daniel, Christopher & Amelia seemed – I have to admit it – a bit old- with chose “Tigers at Awhitu,” and – as fashioned to me, a bit well-behaved, I recall – produced a very beautiful ...... 7 Winter 2013 Author of Ballads” was assisting when the which a prize of ten shillings was Contemporary British and Irish Poetry: “Phantom Curate” came and took the offered weekly for the best poem. I won An Introduction (2006) bass in it. We were, if I remember this prize on one or two occasions and Tigers at Awhitu (2010) aright, preparing for a Tennyson thus “contacted”—“John O’Dreams” of & (hopefully forthcoming soon): evening illustrated with music. One of whose identity I had no knowledge. Gleam (2013) our numbers was the inevitable “Sweet My first actual meeting with Helen and Low.” There arose a hot contention Longford took place in Wellington. She Rest in peace, Sarah: as to whether “Wind” should be came to interview me on behalf of the pronounced to rhyme “tinned” or Radio Record. She was a friend of Mrs sleep, tiger, sleep “kind.” Coleridge, daughter of the late Dr sleep and let it be Mrs. Mason objected to the first Sprott, Bishop of Wellington. I had pronunciation because wind rhyming more than one spirituelle afternoon with (This article first appeared on the with “tinned” made her think of a baby. Mrs Coleridge in her room at author’s blog site The Imaginary She might have found a place in Bishopscourt. Here again we might drag Museum, 20 April 2013) Concerning Isabel Carnaby, that in “atmosphere.” Here I met Helen charming study of Methodist social life Longford. Dr Jack Ross has published several by Ellen Thorneycroft Fowler, which Another meeting was the occasion of books of poems, including City of belonged to the Heavenly Twins genre, Mrs Mason’s funeral. Helen Longford, Strange Brunettes (1998), Chantal’s the dear old epigrammatic novel. then growing frail, made the journey Book (2002), To Terezin (2007) & Arthur Mason had been a choir boy at from Wellington to Dunedin and hurt Celanie (2012), as well as three novels, St Paul’s, London, as was Walter De La her head through a fall on the ferry a novella, and two collections of short Mare. Mason had a brother with a top- steamer. It was one of the smallest stories. He also edited a number of line voice. This brother sang a solo funerals I have ever attended, but those books and literary magazines, including when the choir went to Windsor to sing who were present were there for a very (with Jan Kemp) the trilogy of audio / to Queen Victoria. Her majesty may good reason. Archdeacon Whitehead text anthologies Classic, Contemporary have taken a fancy to young Mason conducted the service just in the way & New NZ Poets in Performance (AUP, because, unlike William Ewart “Christine would have liked,” to quote 2006-8). He has a Doctorate in Gladstone, he did not address her as if Helen Longford’s words. Comparative Literature and teaches she were a public meeting. He just sang When Helen Longford was herself laid Creative Writing at Massey University’s to her as only a boy can sing. On the to rest there was a representative Albany campus. following visit Mason the soloist was gathering of men and women who loved absent with measles or something. and admired her. I used to encounter her When the Queen asked for him Arthur in Castle Street with a milk billy. I Mason was presented in his brother’s would ask her if she had her pennies in A tribute to Helen stead. her hand. Perhaps this question was ill- Longford As a man, Mr Mason always seemed to timed as there was no plethora of me to be something of a misfit in pennies in Helen Longford’s tiny Dunedin. He should have been a lay establishment. She had the pride of The following tribute to the early New clerk in a Cathedral City. The Cathedral Lucifer. Zealand poetry editor of the late City would have presented Christine She typed an entire novel for me, and 1920s/1930s, Helen Longford, was Mason with a happier milieu than did would not take a penny for her work. found recently. Dunedin. She did the same for a young man in Helen Longford was a devoted sister. Auckland. Sometimes I just left a typing HELEN LONGFORD by Wilfred She had her own way to make in the fee on her mantelpiece. In this little Westley world, however, and she proceeded to room she would hold court. make it with a courage that won the I have engaged somewhat freely in That dear old term “atmosphere” has administration and affection of all who personalities in the course of this done good service. An author creates it, knew her intimately. She was on the appreciation, so I shall refrain from or imagines that [they do]. Perhaps it is staff of the Otago Daily Times as a mentioning two men who sat with me at the atmosphere which creates the young woman until she went to Miss Longford’s flat one afternoon. author. Helen Longford and her sister Wellington, where she acted as private Despite her deafness, she could govern Christine were informed by atmosphere. secretary to Sir John Findlay; a great a causerie in the manner of a Madame I remember spending an afternoon at opportunity for her. It was always an De Sevigne. A more detailed account of Albert Street in company with Ernest inspiration to hear Helen Longford her activities will be found, I hope, in a Drake, the late John Leech, and a speak of Sir John. future number of the P.E.N. Gazette. baritone whose name I have forgotten. Then she joined the staff of the [New A memorial to Helen Longford may be We were practising a quartette. Not an Zealand] Radio Record and as “John found in the New Zealand Room at the operatic one such as the bishop in “Bab O’Dreams” initiated a poetry page in Dunedin Free Public Library. It consists 8 ...... Poetry Archive of an entire set of The New Zealand for their particular sporting interest Angus McMaster (full name Harry Mercury, bound according to years. group. Angus McMaster b. 6 February 1908) Of her two anthologies, A Gift Book of Because of this, a place worth checking played rugby for College Rifles 1929- New Zealand Verse and Here are for poems is sports club histories. As 1937. His positions included wing Verses, the former is perhaps the better. with family histories, they are privately three-quarter, halfback and five-eighth. I take the liberty of lifting the following printed – and occasionally contain He was skipper of the Second Grade poem by Chistine Mason. poems inside. Juniors side in 1934 and progressed to One poem found recently by PANZA the seniors. He served on the club’s ELEGIE member Mark Pirie is by the College management committee 1935-36. (In memory of Dean Fitchett) Rifles back Angus McMaster. It was He left rugby like most Rifles players to included by editor Max Smith in a 1972 serve in the armed forces during World Twelve moons have waxed and waned College Rifles’ club souvenir book to War II. since our loved Dean celebrate 75 years of the club’s After the war, he lived in Auckland Passed slowly down the aisle for the last existence, which included a reunion. where he was a ‘clerk’ according to time… electoral rolls. That night the moon looked through the ODE TO A PARD He was married to Nyra McMaster. flying clouds Angus died in 1976. And shed her radiance gently o’er the That spirit always met scene. In the College Rifles set Slowly the winter crept; the quiet rains Has in no way been upset wept; By this bloody toil and sweat; Comment on And soft mists hid the margins of the And the only real regret The Tuapeka Times hills. Is that you’re not here to let Come next the Spring with its pale Me take YOUR pass – or yet primroses To drink your health. You bet! Another New Zealand paper that And crocuses like chalices of gold. - Angus McMaster contains early poems of interest is the That Summer-time adorned the land with Otago paper The Tuapeka Times. flowers, McMaster’s poem is clearly a war It was published bi-weekly from 1873 The queenly rose and poppies that unfold poem. It’s hard to say though whether and usually had four pages to an issue. Their silken-petalled loveliness to view. McMaster is in effect a practicing poet. It ceased in 1941. And so to Autumn’s falling leaves and In his playing years, players often broke PANZA member Mark Pirie found the sere, into song, played guitar or dashed off following anonymous poem (which That close the cycle of the changing year. verse at Smokos. makes interesting comment on New - Christine Mason. McMaster sent it home in a letter to his Zealand life in Otago in the 1870s) Rifles’ mate, Stan Kirk. Kirk collected when searching its contents recently: Miss Longford included two of her all the Rifles players’ letters from the sister’s poems. Apart from the merit of war and later deposited most of them MODERN NEW ZEALAND this poem it has significance for all who with the War Memorial Museum in remember Dean Fitchett. Mrs Mason Auckland. Hurrah for our modern New Zealand— was often locum tenens at All Saint’s Ian Appleton who has done research on The bonniest land on the seas; organ, and like other women of her Kirk’s collection says that he didn’t find Where might is the right of the strongest, calibre, enjoyed the friendship of a much verse and does not remember And rich men can do as they please. charming and witty man and a tender McMaster contributing verse. pastor. He writes that: ‘Kirk was key in the The country where gentlemen wreckers survival of the club during and after the Can salvage the immigrants’ store: (First published in C R Allen’s war, and his letters were critical in this The country where tigers of women magazine, The Wooden Horse, 1950) regard. Very quickly after the war began Can murder their servants galore. nearly all of the eligible players at the club had volunteered, from memory Where a man may have wives without Comment on there were only a couple out of eighty number, odd who did not make it into the armed And nobody think him to blame Angus McMaster forces and this was on medical grounds, Where a maiden, who fights for her or in Kirk’s own case because of honor, employment in an essential industry. Must flee from the country in shame. Recent New Zealand cricket and rugby The Club was placed into recession – on poetry anthologies have revealed a its own request – for the duration of the The country where midnight marauders, number of poets working away mainly war, as were many of the Auckland May rob with bravado and din clubs.’

...... 9 Winter 2013 And policemen look wise and see divorced in 1924, while he was living in reproductions of book covers and other nothing— Auckland. She had remained in England. memorabilia related to NZ poetry and Unless you have plenty of tin. Clarke appears on Auckland electoral poetry performance. rolls until 1946 listed as a ‘journalist’. Where a larrikin smashing your windows, His death appears to be 1957 aged 74 Wanted And a thief caught robbing your till, years according to official Births, NZ poetry books (old & new) Are either “discharged with a caution,” Deaths and Marriages records. Other NZ poetry items i.e. critical books Or the jury will find ’em “no bill.” There may well be more of his writings on NZ poetry, anthologies of NZ poetry, in Auckland newspapers and journals. poetry periodicals and broadsheets, Where swindlers can live upon credit, poetry event programmes, posters And pay off their debts with a “smash;” and/or prints of NZ poets or their poetry And the mice and the matches are handy, Donate to PANZA books. When a man’s in a hurry for cash. through PayPal DONT THROW OUT OLD NZ Where parsons go out of their pulpits POETRY! SEND IT TO PANZA To dabble in “townships” and “shares;” And merchantmen, “doing religion,” You can now become a friend of PANZA will offer: May mix up their goods and their PANZA or donate cash to help us • Copies of NZ poetry books for private prayers. continue our work by going to research and reading purposes. http://pukapukabooks.blogspot.com and • Historical information for poets, Where “society” smiles on “Miss Kitty,” accessing the donate button – any writers, journalists, academics, And “Good Templars” rejoice in their donation will be acknowledged. researchers and independent scholars of “nips;” NZ poetry. Where publicans minister “justice,” • Photocopying for private research And jurymen brag of their “tips.” purposes. Recently received • Books on NZ poetry and literary Where the working man raises the taxes donations history, and CD-ROMs of NZ poetry To pay for the rich man’s school and literature And the loafer runs off, that his children Leon Gray – Caravel’s Descent by • CDs of NZ poets reading their work May be kept by the honest fool. Leon Gray. • Inspirational talks on NZ poets • Video/DVD/film screenings of Then hurrah for our modern New John Ellis – 14 titles. documentaries on NZ poets Zealand, • Readings/book launches by NZ poets The bonniest land on the seas; Paul Thompson – 7.34 by Paul • Educational visits for primary schools, For sure, if we’ve somehow made money, Thompson. intermediates, colleges, universities and Why shouldn’t we do as we please? creative writing schools/classes. PANZA kindly thanks these donators to • The Northland Writers’ Walk (in (From The Tuapeka Times, 22 May the archive. planning) 1878) You can assist the preservation of NZ poetry by becoming one of the Further comment on About the Poetry Friends of the Poetry Archive of New Archive Zealand Aotearoa (PANZA ). George Clarke If you’d like to become a friend or business sponsor of PANZA, please contact us. Poetry Archive of New Zealand

Searches on George Clarke, whose Aotearoa (PANZA) Contact Details poems appeared in the previous issue of Poetry Archive of NZ Aotearoa Poetry Notes, have produced the PANZA contains (PANZA) following information. 1 Woburn Road, Northland, Wellington Clarke appears to be ‘George Balderson A unique Archive of NZ published PO Box 6637, Marion Square, Clarke’, an Auckland journalist, who poetry, with around five thousand titles Wellington arrived in New Zealand in 1915. Clarke from the 19th century to the present Dr Niel Wright - Archivist was born in Nottinghamshire about day. (04) 475 8042 1883 according to the 1911 England The Archive also contains photos and Dr Michael O’Leary - Archivist Census. paintings of NZ poets, publisher’s (04) 905 7978 Clarke married in England Winnifred catalogues, poetry ephemera, posters, Annie Clarke in 1905, and they email: [email protected] 10 ...... Poetry Archive Visits by welcome by appointment

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, Vaughan Rapatahana and the New Zealand Poetry Society.

PANZA is a registered charitable trust

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