NEW ZEALAND VERSE

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12507, 24 July 1926, Page 12

NEW ZEALAND VERSE

“ Local Colour” Pervades New Anthology

Quite a considerable number of years ago Messrs W. F. Alexander and E. A. Currie produced an anthology of New Zealand verse. For a first attempt it was a passable anthology, though among the posies were frequent patches of dandelions flaunting. Whatever they resembled in the moonlight or at a distance they still were weeds. So far, then, so moderately good. We are a young people in most things, including literary tradition and achievement, and “moderately good” may be counted as relatively excellent. The announcement that the Alexander-Cur-rio anthology was to bo brought up to date gave the literati new hope. The volume is here, and that hope is fulfilled only in small part. The editors,; whether from being old-fashioned of curious iii their standards, have not done justice to our moderns: the dandelions flaunt as before to the ex-;, elusion of many choice blooms.

It is a pity. Some day, the work will have to be done thoroughly all over again.

Seemingly, one of the first qualifications for admission was that the poem possessed “local colour” or had been written at least 20 years ago. In no

• ■ •• other way can be explained thfe presence of verse, wbicli,' qua verse, is obtrusively mediocre. It almost makes us. wish—and we are no poet—that we had thought to write a few pathetic lines on the habits and grace of the toheroa or the Maori bug; To get down to specific illustration: the revised anthology contains examples of the poetry of but 18 new contributors. “Exigencies of .space.” the editors, “hay© entailed the' omission of a mimber of newer writers. . .” And one; John/JSarr, of Craigielee, is represented by'n<>'fewer than six (!) rather dreadful “poems” in cheap Scots, when the gifted Eileen Duggan has but two, Boyce Bowden one, Pamela Travers none, Alison Grant none, O. N. Gillespie none, Bartlett Adamson none, Dick Harris none. John Barr, etc., is incredibly fortunate in his editors; he and the likes of Alexander Bathgate, John Liddell Kelly, Henry Allison, Mary Richmond, Napier Broome, Alfred Domett, Charles Umbers, and others. Half of Domett, could have gone overboard to make room for»more genuine poets. Whatever Domett was to Browning, he is no Colossus of Parnassus to anybody but these anthologists. There is too much of W. Pemher Reeves, of Arnold Wall, of Anne Glenny Wilson, but not too much of Jessie Mackay, for all her dozen poems. Miss Mackay rarely composes without revealing a flash of the divine fire. A few facte from “gems” in this treasury:— (1) From "TO POHTTTU IN EBULLITION.” Ts’t a Titan in anguish* Doth Prometheus languish In bowels of earth? Are Vuleans there? forging And hammering nnd scourging To frustrate the birth Of a spirit?—-infinite? I (Note the inspirational uc>e of that lost word.) (2) From “A NEW ZEALAND PICTURE.” Otaki, that rollest in thy pride, First among rivers far and;near, Little .streamlet, flowing blue and clear, Ocean, with your strong imperious tide. ■

(8) From “A SONG OF WINTER.” Bird on the leafless bough, Summer has fled; Bird on the leafless bough, Flowers are dead. • • • « Ah l will not memory keep Sharp grief alive? Never will mem'ry sleep Howe'er I strive. From “GOOD-NIGHT.” “Good-night”: So, firm hand clasping hand, Wo meetly close the day, Unconscious that the angel band Bend down to hear us say “Good-night.” In-tender tones, or grave, or light; For in their paradise all bright They never, never say “Good-night.” (5) From “THE MOUNTAIN SPIRIT: ... A GLIMPSE OF MOUNT COOK.” Felt ye a deep-heart loneness Come o’er ye, as winter creeps, When twilight set on your whare-roof Away from the mountain peaks? (Note the desperate attempt to rhyme “creeps” and “peaks.”)

|6j From "TO THE MAKOMAKO, OR BELL-BIED.” , . Alas! we now hut seldom hear Thy rich full note Around us float. For thou seem’st doomed to disappear E’en from woods remote. • '# ' * • Why should we ever know new joys, If thus they pass? Leaving, alasl Wistful regret, that much alloys AU that man now has. <T), v; Ifroffl “THE LOST; TRIBJJ.” The last stern’ warrior -laid him down alone, Unsenulchred, unhonoured, anlkmented. (8) From "MY AIN DEARIE.” For she's leal and true, and she’s fair to the view. Though she be nae a high-born leddy; She’s, fair in every part, and she's leddy o' my heart, And to inakL'her my bride I am ready. (9) From "MY SONG.” I bade my love Good-night, So loath to part With her, tho deep delight Of this true heart, My queen of pearls! My lily of girls! And when the light was low, *And all was still. Saving that rapturous flow— Tne . lone bird's trill, . I said: “Oh, come, fair dreams To soothe her pretty head; Float soft as silvery beams Now shed!” These excerpts are not a collection of worst verses; they fairly represent the quality of the alleged poems whence they are taken. And publishing these—and others—the editors plead “exigencies of space”! Among the more notable of the new-ly-honoured are Eileen Duggan, Mona Mackay, Marna Service—whose “Blue Magic,” written when she was still at school, is blue magic and mystery through and through—and j. C Beaglehole. All are, or have been contributors to the “New Zealand Times.” Our copy comes from the publishers, Whitcombe and Tombs, Ltd., Christchurch.