SALUTE TO YOUTH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 289, 6 December 1930, Page 1 (Supplement)

SALUTE TO YOUTH.

"KOWHAJ GOLD."

NEW ZEALAND ANTHOLOGY.

(By M.E.S.)

In his brief introduction to "Kowhai Gold," an anthology of contemporary New Zealand verse/ Mr. Quentin tope tells ns that "in New Zealand, the youngest Dominion, last, 'loneliest, mpst self-satisfied, a literature has not yet arisen." We accept the indictment in a chastened spirit, thankful only to learn now at last "the foundations of a New Zealand literature are being laid." And yet we loyed much of our old "Treasury of New Zealand Verse,",and, in our pathetic, middle-aged way, were a little proud of some of it. Not the jess warmly, however, do we wclcome its successor, and very gladly, very proudly ■we salute this gallant spirit of youth and modernism that breathes through its pages. • "'.Kowhai Gold," so pleasantly named, is an excellently arranged anthology, representative, for the most part, of post-war poetry. Many of the names are new, but some we are glad to welcome as old friends. Giving priority to these, we must confess to some disappointment over the selections from the work of Miss Jessie Mackay and Miss Baughan. Miss Mackay, that AvelMoved doyenne of New Zealand verse, is represented by two poems only, bo.th taken from ."Land of the Morning," both unmistakably hers in their soft, lilting music, both belonging to an earlier and perhaps more gracious fashion than the modern. An extract from Miss Bauglian's "Shingle. Short" is all that we are. given of another poet beloved by her public, and Alan Miilgan's "Dead Timber" has already appeared in the later edition.of the "New Zealand Treasury." In his "Soldier Settlement," the tragedy of the later years strikes a poignant note which we shall hope to hear again from this writer. "Kowhai Gold," however, belongs to youth and to contemporary poetry., . .

< Eileen's Duggan's Verse. Very outstanding in this little volume is 'the' work, of. Miss Eileen Duggan. It shows, incidentally,.a great advance upon her work published in tlie previous collection. .. There is great charm in her poetry,'" a provocative melody and a , haunting Celtic mystery. To quote one of the slightest and most charming: "Her dying look was all for you. _ It touched you to the last." they said. Are you not proud to think of that. Though she is dead? O death alive, is that peak proud, Because it was the last in gold. It only knows the sky is blind. And it is cold. Katherine Mansfield's poetry is filled with the same elusive and fantastic beauty as her best prose. The lines to the beloved brother whom she lost in the war appeared in the last edition of the "Treasury," nor would any New Zealand anthology he complete without them.- Here we. have also the delightful "Town Between the Hills," her plaintive "Sea Child,' 5 her, beautiful "Sorrowing Lover." On the . 'other hand, we cannot approve Mr. Pope's choice from the works of Seaforth Mackenzie. There -was much better material at, his disP °Ahove the. name of the late David McKee Wright appear two delightful poems in a new veilir, particularly charmine is "The-. Ivissing of Pegeen. Hirep of D. M. Ross' well-knbwn sonnets ai^ here republished; Will Lawson has character istic poems: ,of .the •«ea, 4 and ' Marha Service's already familiar Blue • Magic" is well supported by two newer poems. J. 0. Beagleliole is worthily represented in several poems that show the influence of travel and experience, and are very distinctly in advance of the one poem published in the previous collection. Nevertheless, we. are inclined to think that he should leave his fairies to dance unsung upon their dewdrops and confine himself to his "Molecular Theory," his "British Museum, and his "Despondency." Mr. Pope has chosen three only of his own poems, all new to us. His. "Sonnet to Elizabeth" is conventionally musical, whilst his ' Retrospect," with its characteristically modern ending, has merit above the average. Professor Wall, on the other hand, has here two poems only, both familiar already to Treasury readers, and reither in his best vein. In this Anthology, as in "The New Countries," greater justice might have been done to this old friend.

New Names. Turning now -to those names that have not° appeared in the early collection, the reader has every reason to congratulate New Zealand. Much of work is excellent; a little might well have been omitted: some of it must live. The name of "Robin Hyde is familiar to the New Zealand public, including readers of this"- paper. The, poems now published are wisely chosen and truly representative of her careful and often very beautiful work. . "Road's End is not original in theme-Browning has said'it'far better—but it has a beauty of its own. _ Ton have made summer golden. Now you Let nothing but . the courteous to suit the unstirml heart When roadways that were friendly Let .neither' tell he, knew that -In these Sweet S dawns was chiming of enchanted birds. . Where Robin Hyde is faithful to the old forms that she uses so cleverly, some of the new generation stand haltway between the old and the new. . R. Fairburn coquettes very cleverly with free verse, and Alison Grant has adopted it. « Yet her song "To Pan is a very good example of the new clever manipulation of rhyme and metre; whilst "The Sun-Worshipper. Spring Pass ing" and "Loyalty," all show great promise, there are times, when it is well to remember that a discard of. all rhyme and metre does not alone constitute poetry, and that an tinbmdled use of the helpful asterisk, grows ivvitatmg. Helena Henderson's work, on the- other hand, harks back and is imitative at present, but there is real beauty in her "Grey Days." It is noteworthy that scarcely a poem in "Kowhai Gold" deals.with Maori lore or pioneer adventure, and that the two who write best of such subjects aic our two poets with; real_Celtic inspiration— Eileen Duggan and Jessie Mackay. anthologist's task is notoriously a , ~ R TiaVf his world reproaches thankless onej halt nis \v.um p him with omissions, the other lia '^™ inclusions. .Gn the whole, r. p to be warmly",. congratulated on his nainstakin 0 ' and ~ conscientious choice, Ld New Zealand,*6n her young brigade, and incidentally on Ins choiceoabte It only remains to be added # that the book is charmingly printed m handy form. • •'Kowlml Jj£° lo^dtted"w gffCVfe- *°' a