The Bookshelf News and Reviews ::

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 31, 6 February 1937, Page 2 (Supplement)

The Bookshelf News and Reviews ::

BEST POEMS. i ANNUAL H.Z. COLUECTION. THE SENSE OP VISION An interesting indication of the poetry being written in the Dominion is provided annually in H. H. Tombs' publication of tho best poems for the year. Iji tho latest addition to this series, "Xew Zealand Best Poems of IOHG," there are only 30 poems, a very few of which have been published before. Tho selection lias been made, as hitherto, by C. A. Marris, who lias exerted the same discrimination and catholic taste that has made tho publication of this slight volumo an event to bo anticipated eagerly by those interested in the development of Xew Zealand literature.

About almost, all these poems there is an unforced natural quality that is a healthy sign. In one or two cases tho idea "verges on the obvious, but the expression, as in Una Auld's "The Dreamer and the Cow," saves it from tho second-rate. Tho majority of the poems give a sense of vision, of tiinclcssneas. Particularly is this so with tho two short poems by Gloria Rawlinbeyond Xew Zealand. Her "Vires Vitae" is as inevitable as some eenturiesold Chinese lyric, and as simple.

Reverting to the more modern style comes Arnold Cork, whose poem, "Sa'wniill," published in "Art in Xew Zealand" some time ago, came as a revelation of how onomatopoeic effects enn be used on Xew Zealand subjects. Here, in "Steel Engraving," is an idea that is by no me.ma new, but tho slow sad gains its effect. The first verse is quoted:—

"•. . . . nml those birds lons nco flew to their doom ; yeara a£o Apes npo the smoke from those eotUROH faded melted mid vanished; ami (lie wind of its jroinj; Is hush'Hl long long ;ipr» hushed; and the sonij. of the hoiiic-goinjr hiirvost the corn-swish juiil hlowinjx of, horses and creaking of. wheels; ami ilr-M nn; tlie Kiilli-slandlns that has set on a day that la never again . . . ."

Tho only topical poem in the colleclion is "G. K. Chesterton" l>y Kelvin Maher, a young Wellington poet whose work is commanding attention. This, though not tho best he has written, has thn ([\mlity host suited to its subject —humility, and compares more than favourably with many written on the samo subject by poet* overseas. There is significance in the fact that the first three poems in the volume are by Robin Hyde, whose reputation has spread more and more widely overseas since, the publication of .1 collection of her poems by so well known n. lirm as Macmillans. " Other familiar names reappear. -Arnold Wall's "Overture -, ie in his best style, and Douglas Stewart's "Haystack" is surprisingly apt. Eve Langley is represented by two, "From tho Burial-ground of Dead Clouds" being one of her finest. One. poem,

"Legend," which in tho list of contents is mistakenly attributed to El«i Bosworth, is written by a young Auckland poet; Kathleen C. Teape, and gives promise of fine things. Bora. Hagemeyer is again represented by three sonnets, each exquisite. The sextet of her "Prayer for Poverty" might profitably be remembered:— "O draw a circle round me out of pity! Ono lifTlo coo£—l do'not need a'clty'; 0 "' A sinslo thrush when all the rest nrc K<>»e. O comfort me with scarcity. I pray! I,est In too srent a llsilt I lose lily way."