. . . Poetry Notes
Autumn 2015 Volume 6, Issue 1
ISSN 1179-7681 Quarterly Newsletter of PANZA
the importance of the artist in New Inside this Issue Welcome Zealand society by reprinting this interview in his memory. Hello and welcome to issue 21 of Jack was known to collaborate with Welcome Poetry Notes, the newsletter of PANZA, poets like Bill Manhire and Ian Wedde. 1 the newly formed Poetry Archive of Jack Body remembered New Zealand Aotearoa. AN INTERVIEW WITH JACK Poetry Notes will be published quarterly BODY by Paul Wolffram and will include information about ANZAC tribute and goings on at the Archive, articles on Jack Body is a leading New Zealand 100 Years From Gallipoli historical New Zealand poets of interest, composer and currently teaches music 3 poetry project occasional poems by invited poets and a at Victoria University.
record of recently received donations to Classic New Zealand the Archive. Abbreviations used: P: Paul Wolffram; poetry by Karen Smith Articles and poems are copyright in the J: Jack Body. 6 names of the individual authors. The newsletter will be available for free Comment on Elizabeth download from the Poetry Archive’s P: Your fascination with Asia, its music Montgomery 8 website: and its people began in 1970 on your return from Europe. You travelled Hilaire Kirkland project http://poetryarchivenz.wordpress.com through a large part of Asia and were drawn particularly to Malaysia and Thailand. What is it that attracted you Rare George Nepia poem Jack Body to these countries above those European found countries which your musical training remembered was based in?
New publication by J: I guess one is always fascinated by PANZA member 9 Wellington composer Jack Body (1944- the unknown or the ‘other’. In my
2015) died in May this year. PANZA generation you were brought up very Donate to PANZA through archivist Mark Pirie found an interview Euro-centrically and there is this kind of PayPal with Jack Body, published in his inherent racism, being white and
Recently received magazine JAAM in 1997, around the believing that ‘white is best’ and donations time he was working on his opera Alley, believing that Asia represents the about Rewi Alley, the poet and teacher Yellow Peril. (Growing up in the years About the Poetry Archive in China. of the Cold War and all the memories of The interviewer is Paul Wolffram, a co- the Second World War.) So to kind of strike Asia and to realise founder of JAAM, also an that it is such an extraordinary and ethnomusicologist, poet, composer and PANZA documentary filmmaker. wonderful place, and that there are all 1 Woburn Road PANZA would like to remember Jack’s these people living there and living rich Northland considerable contribution to New and fascinating lives and one has no Wellington 6012 Zealand arts and his understanding of
...... Autumn 2015 knowledge of it well it’s absolutely works that you have collaborated on. Poets, of course, try to stretch the appalling. What do you find to be the most conventional meaning but music For me, it was confronting Asia and interesting thing when working with unless it’s a song and uses words well, seeing it. I was struck by so many things: writers and other artists? you can’t even begin to say what it the heat, the smell, the decay, and the means. renewal. The view of life; especially in J: It’s difficult to generalise, but I guess India where the cycle of life is so what one is looking to achieve, is the P: You have been seen as having ‘an manifest and rotten. And out of all this ability to combine with other artists and entrepreneurial flair running in your comes new life. to create something new and unexpected. veins’ and the list of your impresario Musically, I was fascinated by the One often finds that the process of roles is long. How do you perceive your strange sounds everywhere collaboration can be very fraught at role as an artist/director in New not just the music, but the sound times. Zealand? environment. It took me a little while, The most recent thing I’ve done is work however, to get involved in those things on the libretto for the Alley opera and I J: In a way, collaborations require you to because equally fascinating is the food, did this with Geoff Chapple. When we suppress your ego and to put your self the climate, the clothing and the religion. sat down to work on it I had some aside. Many of the things I do are not general ideas and we struggled with necessarily related to my own work. P: Your first taped piece resulting from material but we didn’t struggle with each Most of my collaborations are more your time in Indonesia, Musik Dari Jalan other. It was just such a joy to work about making things happen, for (1975), consequently won the 1976 together. We worked at it and worked at example, it might be a good idea that we International Festival of Electro-acoustic it and in the end we had to say that we have CDs of New Zealand music. I guess Music in Bourges. Musik Dari Jalan like had got something done but we would there is a kind of ego in having an idea a number of your other works of the time have to come back to it. When I came and getting it realised, but it doesn’t Turtle Time (1968) and Carol to Saint back to it, I saw just how great it was, always have to relate to my own work. I Steven (1975), uses a lot of language there is nothing in it that I can’t totally think there is a kind of creativity in and speech. What is the appeal of accept it is just transcendentally having ideas and realising them. working with poetry and the voice? wonderful. I should mention Douglas Lilburn. When Geoff was always able to incorporate my he retired, he stopped composing. He put J: It’s a good coat hanger. It’s a frame to ideas. Now I’m writing the music and all his money into a trust, which is quite work around and provides imagery. that is just my job and I don’t have to wealthy. The trust is for New Zealand work with anybody but in terms of music, and he is closely involved in P: Do you find that poetry gives you making that script, it was incredible that where that money goes and I guess that visual stimulus? we could work so easily together. is where he focused a lot of his creativity. I’ve known Douglas for years and I J: Yes, and it helps to give it a form. But P: Does it happen often that ideas guess I’ve taken on his kind of values, what I am most interested in (and which come together so cleanly as they did for partly pressure from him, and partly in I use in my Opera but hope to take it the script of this opera? admiration of him. If you are in a much further) is the use of non-Western position of power, I think that you are music. Word settings in other cultures J: Well, that depends, because some somehow bound to exercise that power are very interesting. You get songs on people are willing just to toss something for the wider good. As with Wai-te-ata one note, broken vocal sounds and many in and what ever becomes of it Music Press, I am represented there, but different kinds of chanting. I am really they’re accepting. so are 27 other New Zealand composers. very interested in these things and want The most difficult thing I find is film. So a lot of my energy simply goes into to explore these more and more. (Moving Film is such a multifaceted art form a making things happen. away from conventional Western kind of ‘Bastard art’ if you like that singing.) I get frustrated with singers that the director’s vision becomes the P: Do you find the return from these use vibrato all the time and kind of important thing. Directors have to deal things generally rewarding? hammer their voices. with costume, cameras, lighting, actors For instance, in my opera, one of the and a composer, so the only way that the J: Well, if I could just say, my opera characters has a swan song as he is about director’s vision can be portrayed is by [Alley], as you know, has collapsed. to die. I think it will be very powerful; being an autocrat. Funding from Creative NZ was not here is somebody who can’t sing singing. forthcoming and so it has completely P: How do you see that your art differs collapsed. Part of my resentment was P: You have been involved in many from that of a writer? that none of the money from Creative NZ multimedia productions with artists and was to come to me, it was going to venue writers over the past ten years. The J: Music is so abstract it has no fees and performers, etc. Apart from my Sonic Circuses (1974-75, 1987) and intrinsic meaning that you can define. value as a composer, I feel I’ve earned Song Cycle (1975) are just some of Words in a sentence define themselves. the right for a little bit of nice treatment
2 ...... Poetry Archive like an opera production. I mean after P: You have also experienced intimately as far as he is aware of. He also came what you’ve been talking about being the role of an artist in Asian cultures. across a second poem tribute an entrepreneur. [Alley eventually went What is their view of the artist? mentioning Col. Malone in Papers Past ahead and premiered at the NZ and a third poem in the Stratford International Festival of the Arts, 1998. – J: In Indonesia, there are Royal courts Evening Post in 1918. Ed.] (traditional arts) which are pretty poor now, but the family of the court still P: So what do you perceive to be the perform the court arts of music, dance New Zealand perspective of the creative and poetry. There is still a reasonable artist? amount of money to help those people survive. In a way, what the court artists J: For the moment – appalling! The irony don’t have in terms of material wealth, that I saw was that we asked for one they have in terms of prestige. hundred and thirty thousand to produce You also have the village arts and this is an original opera, which sounds like a lot often related to ceremony on special of money, but when you consider that occasions, seasons and sometimes in they give Auckland Opera four hundred times of distress like drought, etc. There and thirty two thousand to produce two is a very potent function of the arts in operas that are standard repertoire . . . society and this is something we really Just what is ‘Creative’ and what’s ‘New have no understanding of. The people Zealand’ about that? So that’s a very who perform and the people who create personal slant on things, but I think that have a very powerful function in society, the arts are severely under funded in this even if it doesn’t mean great wealth. country. If you look at Europe or even our near neighbours Australia, NZ (From JAAM 8 (1997)) Lieutenant Colonel William George Malone. funding is piddly. If you look at the McAllister, James, 1869-1952: Negatives of grants that are given: twenty five Stratford and Taranaki district. thousand for a year as a major grant. Ref: 1/1-012824-G. Alexander Turnbull ANZAC tribute Library, Wellington, New Zealand. People who receive twenty five thousand http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22789124 for an annual salary are considered near poverty. This year marks the 100th anniversary
since the battle at Gallipoli and the New The subject of the poem Col. Malone
Zealanders’ Chunuk Bair offensive, (1859-1915), of the Wellington considered to be one of the defining Battalion, was one of New Zealand’s moments in New Zealand history and prominent figures at Gallipoli. Some national identity. details can be found in Papers Past The Gallipoli offensive at Anzac Cove (Taranaki Daily News, 26 October in Turkey is well documented by 1915): military historians. ANZAC bravery won wide praise for reaching Chunuk The “Stratford Post” publishes a letter Bair’s summit, but it grew into an from Chaplain-Captain Father unsuccessful campaign, the remaining McMenamin, who is at Gallipoli, to soldiers withdrawn and eventually Father Maples, in the course of which evacuated at nightfall from the the reverend gentleman says, peninsula. Over two thousand New concerning the great fight on August Zealand soldiers died there, and many 7th: “Our boys fought nobly, and I more were wounded. can say without boasting that there PANZA would like to offer a tribute to are no troops to excel them. No New Zealand’s fallen in the form of matter how severe the assault, they Photographs of Jack Body. Watkins, Gareth, verse authentic to the country at the never broke or wavered for an instant. 1972- Photographs. Ref: PADL-000850. time of World War One. I cannot tell you of our losses, but the Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, casualty lists will tell their own tale. New Zealand. The anonymous poem, ‘On the Death of Col. Malone’, found by PANZA The greatest loss that our Infantry http://natlib.govt.nz/records/32058368 Brigade suffered was in the death of Archivist Mark Pirie, appeared in the Col. Malone. His work over here has Stratford Evening Post, Taranaki, in been magnificent, and he has proved 1915, and is not on the National Library himself to be every inch a soldier. In of New Zealand’s Papers Past website, this last great fight he rose to the ...... 3 Autumn 2015 occasion and made fame for himself shrapnel from a shell fired by one of Poem by “Hei-konei-ra” and the battalion he commanded. On our own ships. Four or five bullets Sunday, August 7, his men had the struck him. The ships were doing ON THE DEATH OF COL. foremost position, and from daylight their best to support the troops, firing MALONE till dark they fought like tigers. over their heads from the sea. The Colonel Malone, who did not know Turks were so close, and the position The roll is called, and deathless names what fear was, remained all day in the occupied by the battalion was so Are written where the Book of Life thick of the battle; encouraging his difficult, that a good many casualties Tells of the lurid battle flames, brave men by his own example. on our side were caused the same Of shot and steel, high hopes and aims, About 6 p.m., he was struck down by way. However, my informant seemed Brave deeds amid a world of strife. a burst of shrapnel, and died without a to regard this loss as inevitable, and Such pages are for those alone, word.” not to be set against the value of the Who heard the call that echoes through support given at the time by the ships’ The far-thrown aisles of Britain’s Another report (Star, 10 January 1916) guns. fame, notes: He said that Col. Malone was For in her hour of need they drew exceedingly popular with his men; Their swords, and at her call, they In the attack on Chunuk Bair that he was a fine officer, and had came. [Malone’s] resolute leadership was an done great service, which had been inspiration to his men. He was ever in appreciated by his brigadier. The man On sunlit plain and dark defile the van, scorning all danger. Early in also drew a picture of Malone's They carved their names, their the day a rifle that he carried was energy and care for his men, and thoughts and creeds, pierced by a Turkish bullet. This personal example to them. He said And there Death’s Angel paused a while interested him, and he said he would that each morning the colonel might And entered each – the rank and file – keep it as a memento of the fight. be seen having a hard run to keep And made a record of their deeds, Whenever he moved forward or along himself fit and in good condition; that The silent witness of the dead the trench he picked up the battered often he had seen him with open shirt Perhaps alone, who watched them go, rifle again and carried it with him. and sleeves rolled up, handling a Whose icy fingers slowly turned Finally he was shot through the head shovel or axe or pick-axe, and The storied pages, moving slow, by a bullet from a shrapnel shell that showing how some piece of work When youth’s high courage fiercely burst over the trench. He sank back should be done. burned. into the arms of one of his officers Shortly before his death Col. Malone [Captain Hastings] and died had gone down to an English And here is one, whose shield appears painlessly on the highest point on the battalion (one of Kitchener’s new Through Britain’s early years of stress, Peninsula attained by our arms. ones) which had lost most of its Whose motto through the marching officers, and was under a murderous years In 1982, Maurice Shadbolt’s play, Once fire, and had helped to get it into Was ever this – “That Justice hears on Chunuk Bair, considered that Col. order again. As a proof of his The weak one’s call and gives redress.” Malone was killed by ‘friendly fire’ popularity, this man said that he was It mattered not that his great creed from a British fleet ship firing shrapnel affectionately known among his men Might ask from him great sacrifice. shells over their trench but historians as “Mollie Malone.” He only knew that for a space didn’t support this version of events (Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue He clothed a soul that never dies, – (Shadbolt took it from Robert Rhodes 117, 13 November 1915, Page 13) A soul that asks no resting place. James, Gallipoli, 1965, that includes Captain Hastings’ report). A large number of tributes and Through the storm-tossed mantle falling – An article in the Evening Post tends to obituaries for Col. Malone are in Papers Snows of ages – on the scroll support Shadbolt’s and others’ version Past searches near the time of his death. Of Britain’s fame a voice is calling of events: He was certainly a popular, well-known Gathering where the war drums roll: man in Taranaki and elsewhere who led “Brave one, thou has answered smiling, HIT BY BRITISH NAVAL by example. Courage lights the stormy way SHRAPNEL. The New Zealand public had Of our noble children filing remembered him also in verse: Through valhalla’s halls to-day.” Malone was close up to the fighting line, on foot, encouraging his men (Stratford Evening Post, 26 August when he was struck. He was hit by 1915)
A second poem tribute that is also related to Malone’s death appears in
4 ...... Poetry Archive Papers Past by a woman poet of Kapuni, The third poem is written towards the Actual casualty figures were higher than written whilst milking her cows: end of the war in 1918, and focuses on 12,000. remembering the actual number of Many more poems and tributes about “LOVE IS MIGHTIER THAN casualties, it’s a hard-hitting piece: the war have been written, both from DEATH.” World War One and from contemporary Tribute to New Zealand’s dead writers looking back on the war. [In forwarding these lines, the writer — PANZA has featured some World War a woman—says that the thoughts are Over twelve thousand soldiers from One verse in previous issues of Poetry her own, and that she put them into New Zealand have been killed or died Notes and is always on the look out for verse one evening whilst she was from wounds since the commencement New Zealand war verse. milking her cows. She says, further, that of the war. This small tribute in verse is but one of if love for our brothers, our little numerous mediums being used for this children, our aged, the freedom of our Poem by Neuchamp year’s remembrance. Empire and consideration for those who are suffering at the hands of our TWELVE THOUSAND DEAD enemies, are roused within us, there will 100 Years From be no need for conscription.] Twelve thousand dead! Twelve thousand souls “Gone West.” Gallipoli poetry Let us take for an example Twelve thousand hearts at rest – Brave Malone, and many more, Our bravest and our best, project Who have given their lives for others Twelve thousand dead! On that distant battle shore. Their high service shows us plainly, Twelve thousand dead! We must serve, too, one and all, For each an empty chair: If we wish to save our Empire, For each one spare a prayer, From a low and shameful fall. So cold and still “Out there.” Twelve thousand dead! How arousing, how appalling Are the things we hear each day – Twelve thousand dead! Think of all our comrades falling, All men of sterling worth, Who have gone and led the way: Once full of joy and mirth – Deck their memories with laurel, Now part of foreign earth. Sing their praise in every clime; Twelve thousand dead! Their great deeds will ring for ages, Through the corridors of time. Twelve thousand dead! Buried among the braves: A new book When Anzac Day comes While we speak thus of the fallen, At rest in their far-off graves – around presents answers to two Let us think of those in pain, Some ’neath the restless waves. questions that researcher Graeme Who will bear the scars of battle, Twelve thousand dead! Lindsay posed to Australian and New When they come to us again: Zealand poets as part of his When their stories stir the feeling, Twelve thousand dead! 100 Years from Gallipoli Poetry Till our hearts are caught for breath, Ne’er shall their glory fade: Project: We will feel the truth revealing – Glorious the name they made, “Love is mightier than death.” Priceless the debt they paid. 1. What does Anzac Day mean to Twelve thousand dead! you, to today’s families, communities Let us now be truly brothers, or nations? Prove our manhood ere too late, Twelve thousand dead! 2. What about Remembrance Day or Let us go to help the others And when the victory’s won, other military commemorations or Save our land from evil fate. Crushed is the cruel Hun, anniversaries? We must join our strength together, God’s vengeance will be done, Fight and fight while we have breath, For twelve thousand dead! The views of more than 200 Australian And so prove to all the ages – and New Zealand poets – some well “Love is mightier than death.” Ohakune known in the literary world and others —J.M.L. whose poetry is known only to Kapuni. (Stratford Evening Post, 13 August family and friends – stimulate and 1918) challenge the reader to consider (Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXIX, differing ideas about each nations’ 5 November 1915, Page 3) commemoration of military conflicts ...... 5 Autumn 2015 and the emotions these evoke. This might half explain her Other Central Otago poets like Brian Current perspectives are contrasted with disappearance in contemporary eyes. She Turner, Ruth Dallas and “Blue Jeans” are those from earlier times as we is an adroit verse writer who had in a similar vein to Smith. are taken on a poetic journey from the published two booklets of her poetry The New Zealand Herald (18 August 1840s (when troops from colonial printed by Whitcombe & Tombs: The 1945) reviewed her non-fiction memoir New South Wales were sent to New Sky is Blue (c1969) and Manapouri and Nursing Nomad (which includes some of Zealand to fight against the Māori) to Other Poems (1970). Her poems her early poetry written in Europe): the conflicts of the 21st century. appeared in the Central Otago News. Lindsay complements the poetry with A bio note gives some background and A Nurse’s Odyssey more than 120 photographs of war states she was a nurse who trained in “Take up nursing and see the world,” memorials from across Australia and Christchurch after schooling in Dunedin, might have been the motto of Karen New Zealand – images that encourage then left, lived and traveled overseas, Hetterley when she entered us to reflect upon the true purpose of marrying (for the first time), and serving Christchurch Hospital for training a these symbols of remembrance and their in World War II: few years before the war. place in today’s society. In “Nursing Nomad” she tells a The book is 277 pages and all Karen Smith (nee Wildey), who was sprightly and always interesting tale photographs are full colour. educated at Otago Girls’ High of work, play and travel in Europe, Lindsay states: “Overall I think that School, served with the British the East, and back in New Zealand. there are about 60 poems from New Army in the Second World War This adventurous lady got out of Zealand sources, starting in the 1860s [(Lt. 38th General Hospital, Queen France just ahead of the German with William Golder’s ‘A Parting for Alexandria Military Nursing invasion, joined a military nursing War – A Song’ and ending with Brian Service)], and afterwards [as Karen service, married a Guards’ officer Turner’s ‘Memories of War’ in the Hetterley] wrote the book “Nursing [Major Samuel Edwin Hetterley, Afterword. Nomad” [1944]. She now lives in Coldstream Guards] on her way to The cost is $NZ43.00 per copy PLUS Alexandra with her [second] India, forsook hospital for Postage and Handling of $NZ23.50 per husband and younger son. Mrs cantonments and became the proud book. This is airmail and the cheapest Smith is by no means alone in mother of a son (“Potato Pete”). available as there is no longer considering Central Otago with its Her story will delight all who like surface mail between Australia and New perfect Summer climate, soft shrewd humour and a zest for life. Zealand. While this makes the book colourings and pictorial landscapes (Whitcombe and Tombs.) more expensive, I have opened a bank to be a kind of Paradise. account in New Zealand so no one has Here are some of her verses from her two to pay any currency exchange fees. She had married for the second time in booklets: Order form, including details for 1951 to John Geoffrey Smith (1901- payment in New Zealand, is available 1989), and had a second younger son at: www.ozzywriters.com” Paul, a bluesman. Her first son Peter is Poems by Karen Smith from her first marriage. Karen moved to The Printing Museum in New Zealand is Dunedin after John’s death. Her WINTER AT MANORBURN also working on several WWI poetry granddaughter is singer Hollie Smith, projects concerning the poetry of Alfred who sang ‘Bathe in the River’ at her Here is wilderness. Clark, Don H Lea (previously featured funeral. Karen lived to over a hundred. Unused hilly grounds lie grey and old. in Poetry Notes) and an anthology of Ghostly white with frost are groups of WWI verse. – Ed. pines And rushes bold.
Classic New Zealand The stillness is profound. Only golden willow branches speak. poetry by Karen Smith The dams are desolate floors of deepest ice In ramparts bleak. This issue’s classic New Zealand poetry is by Karen Smith (real name Caren The ballroom comes to life. Lyders Smith, 1911-2013). Legion glinting cars fiesta bring. Smith is someone not widely known and Gaudy skaters glide about and laugh has fallen through the cracks of most And shout and sing. New Zealand anthologies of verse. She belongs to an earlier generation when rhyme and rhythm was the norm. Karen Smith, c1940s
6 ...... Poetry Archive WINDBELLS Pleasing to the uninformed Ned, in an ambitious mood Sweetbriar sprawls in desert place, Crawled up sheer Advance Peak; Beyond the window, jasmine touches Its prickly arching sprays adorned Then painfully slithering down again down With roses clear, of sprightly grace. For mining vowed it over steep. To meet the leaves of sleeping Tom, wondering if his soil would suit, primroses; When stones and grass on hillsides burn Grew trees which later bore fine fruit. A juniper holds crystal drops of dew. And silver mullein spears are dead, The stamened briar roses turn Doc, a dapper little man, On an archway, slim brass tubes as bells To shining berries orange-red. Built himself a tidy bach Tinkle out clear harmonies that tell Papered with pages from the News Of truth and light. When columned poplars dazzling flare And curtained with dyed sugar sacks. Very old was she, And willows seem as yellow light, He it was who found a nugget The lady who once played the mandolin, People on the slopes appear Weighing sixteen ounces rare Who left us music played by wind on To pick for syrup ‘rosehips’ ripe. And though the money gained was spent strings, On a fling beyond compare, Sweet tintinnabulations as of Spring. Winter comes and all is drear Delighted would the ladies be With frost and, on the summits, snow. When Doc invited them to tea. SPRING BLUES Alone on landscape cold and sear Still, briar berries glow. Time passed – and one by one The scilla, smudges where the rocks are, The apostles died; the mines closed With their frail heads drooping grow, down. Eyes up are these chionadoxa THE TIP Dwindling were the school children (Known as glory of the snow) – Who woke with shout the wilds around. Blue as lapis lazuli “Two men looked through prison bars – Eventually of all bereft Cloaking the cold earth vividly. One saw mud, the other stars.” – Anon As empty walls the town was left.
The blue stained crocus opens up Lively today was the tips’ impact: Old folk still alive somewhere Lovelier showing golden heart; Light fires flared as of burning ghat. Think of a cheery little town Vying with the golden cup Gulls were wheeling on confident wings, With the twelve apostles there – Out-turned, of earlier counterpart. Squawking and swooping on edible Not of rubble on the ground. Primrose and iris dot and spear things As sprigs on the gown of yester-year. Or sailing away in the hot, blue air. Lombardy poplars columned high HOPE Wafting scent is given name Vibrantly shimmered from shingle dry. When hosts of violets are seen – Through my window naked boughs are Friendly comforters again – (From The Sky is Blue, 1969) seen Spilling over bed of green. And angled lines of housetops Winter Trails of vinca by the door clear. Bear flowers of tender blue once more. A CHEERY GHOST-TOWN Untidy lies a heap of dry-leaf twigs Upon extensive lawns withdrawn and Gentian snug are brightest now; Among the vigorous population sear. Triggered Nature’s on the move. Of Macetown – once not just a name – Near the cedar’s resinous bough Lived the twelve apostles who To fill a void, birds come plump and Take deep breath and look above. Would put the holy men to shame. lusty. Give thanks for a sky that’s blue Goldminers, they’d always spend The careless lay of twigs for them is And leisure to adore it, too. Each profit on a drinking spree, corn. Returning to the diggings only First descends an iridescent starling BRIAR BERRIES After full recovery. To pull from underneath defensive worms. Through Central’s tawny rugged land Kindly hardy Oliver A thrush trills. Then a coloured chaffinch Turquoise rivers swiftly flow With his loyal pack-horse team Inspects deftly pecks from crannies tight. By stoney height and shingley strand Would follow the precipitous road My spirit soars when drifting greeny Where willows squired by poplars grow. And ford the river frequently waxeyes To get to Arrowtown for stores, Confidently on the heap alight – Besides large sheep runs on the route Oft in icy Winter raw. Tropic flowers imagined for a moment – Are poultry farms and apiaries. In Winter drabness, reassuring sprites. Blossom, later luscious fruit Glorifies the orchard trees.
...... 7 Autumn 2015 WITH CORSO IN MIND before being picked up by Comment on Wedde/McQueen for their Penguin Book Our homely crib at Purakanui Elizabeth Montgomery of New Zealand Verse (1985). She has Perches on a hillside steep also appeared in Oxford’s Anthology of Grown with native bush including New Zealand Poetry in English (1997) Lemonwood and kakabeak. and Pirie/Jones’ Voyagers: Science It looks down on a sapphire inlet Fiction Poetry From New Zealand Tidal from the rolling sea (2009). And across to railway lines Two collections of her poetry were Curving through manuka trees. printed: 8 Poems (1974) and Blood Clear and Apple-red (1981). The crib – a Mecca for young moderns – John Anderson warmly appreciated Has a little attic quiet Pirie’s work on behalf of the Poetry With naught of note, save on the bed Archive. He said that Barry Southam, a A cosy counterpane, a riot contributor to the Poetry Archive, also Of bits all shapes joined cunningly found one of Hilaire’s poems in the To mingle as a harmony. Wellington student magazine Argot in the 1960s. Every piece sewn in by hand Two more poems of hers turned up in the Tells a different kind of tale. A rare 19th century booklet was New Zealand Listener in 1962 and 1964. This reminds of grand occasions, received by PANZA donated by Alistair Another request for help was received That misfortune would bewail – Paterson of Auckland. The booklet had from a researcher relating to cultural Even a party not enjoyed been owned by Paterson’s family since responses in verse to the goldfields of Because too many girls for boys. 1893. Paterson has, in the past, been a 19th century New Zealand. PANZA is sizeable contributor to the Archive and happy to help with such queries and The red wool damask came from curtains has publicly supported the Archive’s welcomes more research requests in the Once draping Grandma’s drawing-room founding. future. Round windows where a lamp was set The booklet Hinemoa by “E.M” (1887), To mark her farmhouse in the gloom; who PANZA didn’t know of, turned out The Stuart tartan from a wrap to be Eleanor Elizabeth Montgomery. Rare George Nepia Often used in her pony trap. The booklet is fully illustrated. She has four titles to her credit in J C poem found The khaki oblong, hardly pretty, Andersen’s Author’s Week 1936 Came from a soldier’s uniform bibliography. Andersen makes a special A brother wore in World War Two, note for her, describing her work, A recent PANZA discovery of a poem Surviving odds with hope forlorn. although slight, as being commendable about George Nepia was in a box of Was it all so long ago attempts at a national literature. donations from Quilters Bookshop in The time we watched and waited so? Wellington. Quilters recently closed its doors, and generous donations were The quilt old-fashioned, tranquilizing, Hilaire Kirkland received. Inviting with white sheet turned down, We thank John Quilter for the sizeable Has one soon asleep and smiling, project donation. Around 300 items were given Quaint associations round. to us and have now been catalogued. Part of the crib and part of leisure Quilters was an established shop in For sentiment only it is treasured. PANZA Archivist Mark Pirie recently Wellington for many years, and John received a request for help from John Quilter was a bookseller in the truest But who am I to prate of quilts? Anderson (UK) for a project collecting sense, who knew books and their value. Each year New Zealand women meet the poetry of Hilaire Kirkland (1941- Quilters Bookshop will be missed. As groups and make the like by hundreds 1975). Among the donations, PANZA archivist To send displaced folk in the East Pirie found a number of her poems in Mark Pirie discovered the poem on All Or other regions in distress Islands (No. 15, 1976) and in copies of Black “Invincible” George Nepia. Nepia Worse off for Winter bitterness – Review (Otago University Students was sole fullback picked for the 1924/25 Folk reassured of kindness still Association, 1962-1964) as well as the tour after influence shown by the young By personal tokens of Goodwill. 1971 anthology of the Otago University selector, Canterbury’s Harry Davis. Literary Review. Considered a weak team when it left (From Manapouri and Other Poems, Kirkland, after her death at an early age, New Zealand’s shores, the team returned 1970) appeared in the women’s poetry unbeaten, going one better than the All anthology Private Gardens (1977), Black “Originals” of 1905/06. 8 ...... Poetry Archive The poem was written by balladeer We simply gazed in wonder generated, and used the topic in 1964 as Dennis Hogan (real name Denis Alfred As it struck him on the chest, a class-exercise to get some facts when Hogan, 1889-1970), and is a humorous Then Hori, with the barrel, the ‘fab-four’ performed in Wellington account of Nepia fictitiously fielding a In the titree came to rest; during the eight-day tour of New beer keg, but showing the same prowess But a strange thing now had happened, Zealand. as he did fielding the oval rugby ball. For the keg, securely trapped, Two interviews with Lennon he did in In I, George Nepia, Nepia refers to Lay on Hori, quite unconscious, 1964 are in the book. himself as being called “Hori” by his With the bung up to be tapped. Curiosity around the 50th anniversary of team mates during the tour. Hogan has the visit led him recently to search the affectionately used his tour name of There were cries of admiration journals for results of comparable “Hori” in the poem. Nepia remains one As the two were prized apart, studies that other psychologists might of our greatest fullbacks, and his book I, For a man of strength and courage have made. His foray drew a blank, George Nepia, written with TP McLean, Finds a place in every heart. despite the huge social upheaval The was at the time of its publication a classic So when you pass the turn-off Beatles had caused wherever they went. of sporting literature. On the now forgotten track, Disappointment encouraged him to Dennis Hogan, the composer of the Give a thought to gallant Hori, restate the need for others to take up the ballad, was born in 1889 near Frankton In his day a famous Back. study of mass-hysteria. Apart from the Junction. He led a swagger’s life, intrinsic value of the topic in today’s working and labouring in various places (From Billy-can Ballads by Dennis manipulative world, he is still keen to like Waihi and Queensland, Australia. Hogan, Auckland, 1962) validate his results with those that other He was inspired to write after reading researchers might obtain with fans of Persian poet Omar Khayyam. contemporary musical groups. Hogan published two collections, Roads New publication by That Go Up and Down (1946) and Billy- Dr Michael O’Leary is a poet, artist can Ballads (1962). John Norton on PANZA Member: and novelist, who, in his 2014 Songs of New Zealand (c1967) autobiography Die Bibel (ESAW), performed Hogan’s songs. Tony Taylor in discussed the effect that The Beatles and particularly John Lennon had on his Dennis Hogan Conversation with John own decision to become an artist in whatever form that took in his life. A FAMOUS FULL-BACK Lennon After gaining his PhD in literature in 2011 he worked with a number of We were waiting at the turn-off Title: Tony Taylor in Conversation musicians to transform his poems into For the Pack horse with the keg, with John Lennon songs, thus bringing his writing and And filled in idle moments Authors: Tony Taylor with Michael artistic career full circle. O’Leary’s Tossing pennies round the peg; O’Leary [Lennon poem tribute] poem tribute written after the death of The peg that marks the boundary ISBN 978-1-86942-153-3 Lennon concludes the book. Of the Taranaki block, Price: $25.00 Though now it’s lost in clover Extent: 40 pages Since they’re milking round the clock. Format: 148mmx210mm Publication: February 2015 Splashing mud, we heard the Pack horse Publisher: Earl of Seacliff Art As it slithered down the hill, Workshop The only sound of movement On the mountain cool and still; About the Book Then as the weary packman Gave the lagging horse a poke, Dr A.J.W. (Tony) Taylor is an The barrel fell off sideways Emeritus Professor of Pyschology at As the belly buckle broke. Victoria University of Wellington. He
was the first professor of clinical The Beatles at Wellington Airport during The keg released went bounding psychology in the British their New Zealand tour. Hill, Morris James, Over blackened stump and log, Commonwealth, and is the author of 1929-2002: Negatives of Wellington, and And all hands gazed in horror over 300 publications, including his national events and personalities. As if leaping like a frog; memoir Cockney Kid: the Making of an Ref: 1/4-071857-F. Alexander Turnbull Till Hori squared his shoulders Unconventional Psychologist (Silver Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/23217692 And stiffening each leg, Owl Press, 2006). He became interested
With grim determination in the mass hysteria that The Beatles Set himself to catch the keg.
...... 9 Autumn 2015 Dr Michael O’Leary - Archivist Donate to PANZA About the Poetry (04) 905 7978 through PayPal Archive email: [email protected]
Visits welcome by appointment You can now become a friend of Poetry Archive of New Zealand PANZA or donate cash to help us Aotearoa (PANZA) Current PANZA Members: continue our work by going to Mark Pirie (HeadworX), Roger Steele http://pukapukabooks.blogspot.com and PANZA contains (Steele Roberts Ltd), Michael O’Leary accessing the donate button – any (Earl of Seacliff Art Workshop) and Niel donation will be acknowledged. A unique Archive of NZ published Wright (Original Books). poetry, with around five thousand titles Current Friends of PANZA: Paul from the 19th century to the present day. Thompson, Gerrard O’Leary, Vaughan Recently received The Archive also contains photos and Rapatahana and the New Zealand Poetry paintings of NZ poets, publisher’s Society. donations catalogues, poetry ephemera, posters, reproductions of book covers and other PANZA is a registered charitable trust memorabilia related to NZ poetry and Stephen Oliver – pdf of poem ‘In poetry performance. Memoriam S S Penguin’ by W W Boyes. Wanted NZ poetry books (old & new) Mark Young – Hotus Potus by Mark Other NZ poetry items i.e. critical books Young. on NZ poetry, anthologies of NZ poetry, poetry periodicals and broadsheets, Phantom Bill Stickers – Café Reader poetry event programmes, posters and/or vols. 1, 2, 3 and 5. prints of NZ poets or their poetry books. DONT THROW OUT OLD NZ John Quilter, Quilters Bookshop – 300 POETRY! SEND IT TO PANZA titles. PANZA will offer: Mark Pirie – 19 titles. • Copies of NZ poetry books for private research and reading purposes. Alistair Paterson – Hinemoa by E.M. • Historical information for poets, writers, journalists, academics, Roger Evans – Glimpses and Memories researchers and independent scholars of by Wilsonville Collective. NZ poetry. • Photocopying for private research Michael O’Leary – Tony Taylor in purposes. Conversation with John Lennon. • Books on NZ poetry and literary history, and CD-ROMs of NZ poetry and Graeme Lindsay – When Anzac Day literature. Comes Around: 100 Years From • CDs of NZ poets reading their work. Gallipoli Poetry Project a selected You can assist the preservation of NZ anthology plus the CD of all war poems poetry by becoming one of the found. Friends of the Poetry Archive of New Zealand Aotearoa (PANZA ). PANZA kindly thanks these donators to If you’d like to become a friend or the archive. business sponsor of PANZA, please contact us.
Contact Details Poetry Archive of NZ Aotearoa (PANZA) 1 Woburn Road, Northland, Wellington Dr Niel Wright - Archivist (04) 475 8042
10 ......