A Poem He Wrote Has Lived

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVII, Issue 21529, 16 December 1939, Page 33 (Supplement)

A Poem He Wrote Has Lived

THOMAS BRACKEN’S CAREER Authorship and Politics THOMAS BRACKEN, who has left an indelible impression on the poetrv of New Zealand, was born in Ireland in 1843 and arrived in Victoria at the age of 12 years. After experiencing the ups and downs of colonial life for several years, he crossed to Otago, where he shortly afterwards became associated with journalism, being on the staff of the ‘‘Otago Guardian’’ in its early years, and subsequently founded a weekly paper “The Saturday Advertiser” which he conducted with marked ability. In 1881 he was elected to the House of Representatives for Dunedin Central, but lost his seat three years later. In 1887 he was again elected to the House and held the seat for three years. He died in Dunedin on February 16, 1898. The authorship of many poems, which, after the lapse of years, became famous, has frequently been a question for dispute—Samuel Butler raised the question of the authorship of the Iliad and the Odyssey—whilst many questions have been asked, and some remain unanswered, regarding songs and other compositions. Some years ago a minor controversy arose regarding the parentage of “Not Understood,” but the claims launched in favour of other pens than that of Thomas Bracken, found little support and to-day it is universally agreed that the poem must be credited to Bracken and Bracken alone. In popular imagination the phrase “God’s Own Country” as an apt designation for New Zealand, was coined by Richard John Seddon, a phrase which he quoted on many occasions, and it is not surprising that in the end he received full credit for it. But as a matter of fact Seddon. in using this phrase was but quoting the eloquent and expressive words of his old friend and political associate. Like Australia's leading poet. Adam Lindsay Gordon, Bracken was not born in the country; he was a native of Ireland, many of whose sons and daughters have been wedded to the muses. Like his Scottish prototype, Gordon, he left his country young, and quickly absorbed the atmosphere of the land of his adoption. Both had a predilection for poetry and politics; both found their way into the Councils of their adopted countries. Gordon’s

I poetic predilection was for sport and ’ sporting, many phases of which he [ pictured in graphic language; Bracken ' painted equally telling pictures of the ' diggings and the scenes which accom- . panied the early settlement of southern latitudes and of passing events, i The memories of both poets would i assuredly have lived had each written but a single poem: Bracken, “Not Understood” and Gordon, “The Dying ! Stock Rider.” Poet’s Grave Unmarked | It is now 40 years since Bracken 1 passed to his rest, his last years, like those of many other eminent men being passed in obscurity, and to-day his grave in Dunedin is largely un- ! known, and certainly unmarked as it should be. because he bequeathed ! something of real value to his suc- ! cessors—thoughts that cannot fail to do credit to the finer sentiments which should assist all to better play their part in their interminglings with their I fellow men. “Not Understood” con- ; tains many noble thoughts, enshrined I in appealing language, and if these were acted upon how much happier would be the world to-day? But Bracken's contributions were not confined to a single poem; he was a man of many parts, and his interests were numerous. His works have been published in several editions, including ' “Musings in Maoriland,” which first appeared in 1890, published in London. Although Bracken wrote the greater part of his works in New Zealand, he ■ cannot, of course, be claimed as a New Zealand poet, in the sense of being a native of “God’s Own Coun--1 try”; most of his poems might have been written anywhere. In this re- , spect he differs from Gordon, whose poems have a strong Australian flavour. In some instances Bracken deals with purely New Zealand subi jects as “The March of Te Ruaparaha,” and “How Von Tempsky Died”; but except for the local names I these poems might have been written 1 about Rob Roy or on the men who fell at Rorke’s Drift. His poems set in New Zealand scenes do not smell of the ti-tree as the poems of certain Australian writers swell of the bluegum. Bracken was an Irishman by birth and sentiment—and wrote as one. His muse was a maid of many moods, and incited him i to write of many things as wide apart ‘ as “Christmas Reverie” and "Chinese ' Johnny,” with his patriotic pieces somewhere between the two. i Like so many poets, Bracken often I pondered on the great question: | “Whence and Whither?” Several of his poems deal with this problem. Apparently Bracken was content to know that he did not know, and in many of his lines he gives proof that he was no revolutionary; he never clenched his fist and cursed heaven; he was quite content to go singing ; along, relying on his faith: The storm of life sweeps through the young plantations, And from youth’s mount to manhood’s vale it brings Hope’s blossoms, blown with withered aspirations. To fall like feathers from the angels’ wings.