NEW ZEALAND POETS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22562, 4 May 1935, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND POETS

AN APPRECIATION OF MISS DUGGAN (From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON. March 23. Father C. C. Martindale contributes to the Month, a Catholic journal, a flattering appreciation of Miss Eileen Duggan’s “New Zealand Bird Songs.” After quoting extensively from these delightful Verses, Father Martindale says:— “If a poet comes from New Zealand, [ I want him (or her) to be New Zealand- I ish. I am glad and astonished if a Mr Arnold Wall can so terribly well assimilate an ancient English house that hap died; if Mr Frank Harris draws delight and encouragement from sparrows (exactly as ‘we ’ might); if Miss Langley (even though somewhat learnedly, I feel) appreciates the Minoans, and indeed a too-romantic Arabia; and Mr Hyde could write ‘Thalatta,’ not to mention ‘English Riders’ and the ‘taut English look of deep-cut pride’ . . . and I’ve carefully read quite a lot more of New Zealanders’ poetry, even when it’s about emotions just like what yours are when startled by eternity, love, univeraalism, antiquity or what-not. And I wish I could remember who the New Zealander is who wrote so intuitively about Bach. . . . But I am especially moved by anything ‘New Zealand,’ and I am grateful to God that people aren’t yet all exactly like one another, and after all they never will be. in spite of Russia and Russianising dons, but no one save New Zealanders can really reveal New Zealand to us —so please let them! “I think Miss Duggan is an artist; she can manage words and sounds. She has her moments — as Mr C. J. Dennis had (he wrote the ‘ Sentimental Bloke ’ and also ‘Ginger Mick,' because he reacted to the true Australia and the true War; because he' was ‘het up,’ he got down—or up—to the real thing—even in * Digger Smith,’ an aftermath, he did so—but he never did it again) but Miss Duggan’s moments, once they are due to something New Zealandish, last for hours, or for always.”