Story Of Last Ten Years in Verse

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 15059, 20 August 1949, Page 4

Story Of Last Ten Years in Verse

Auckland Woman's Title Of "Peoples' Poetess"

Collection Of War Poems

The story of the past 10 years, told in verse, published regularly in Auckland newspapers and featured in radio sessions, has earned for Mrs Mavis E. Hills, of Auckland, the title of "people's poetess." Mrs Hills, who has been paving her first visit in 20 years to Wellington, her birthplace, has received warm appreciation of her work, particularly her war poems, in America in both newspaper criticisms and personal messages from editors and publishers. She is a granddaughter of Mr Joseph Fitton one of the founders of the township of Paraparaumu, where she spent most of her childhood. She has had no special literary training, has never studied metre, and relies on her natural feeling for rhythm in writing verses, a gift she attributes to her Welsh descent. "I wrote my first poem to the late Mr Savage," she said. "Until then I had no idea I could write verse." Her next effort, "The Digger," was penned during the early stages of the war and was the first of a series of poems published weekly, each poem recording the most important event cf the week's news. "Everything from earthquakes to Ihe All Blacks," explained Mrs Hills. One of her most successful poems, and the most difficult, was written on the birth of the Royal baby, "I tried for thi'ee days before I was ratisfied with the verses," she said. Recorded with appropriate background music, this poem was broadcast in Auckland, and a record was sent to Princess Elizabeth. The visit of Sir Lawrence and Lady Olivier also provided inspiration for one of Mrs Hills' most popular poems, and a letter expressing the Oliviers' delight at the gift of a recording is among acknowledgements from the late President Roosevelt. Princess Marina. Queen Mary and Princess Elizabeth. In addition to her published and recorded verses, Mrs Hills has written a charming children's book entitled "Mucky the Moose," which has been attractively illustrated in colour. Among outstanding wartime verses were the . poem "Crete," "Leaves from a Soldier's Diary," and "A Bluejacket Passed Me By," dedicated to Jackie Cooper, Hollywood film star, who was in New Zealand during the war. Her collection of "War Poems," published at the end of six years' writing, sold out en the day of publication. Mrs Hills was offered a contract to tour the United States by an American editor, but through home ties was unable to accept. She is the wife of Mr Allan Hills, well-known Auckland band leader, and has one son.