Days Among Trees. Poetry by Jan Hutchinson. Steele Roberts, Wellington NZ.
This is Jan Hutchinson's second collection of poetry. About trees, this book covers a lot of other ground, too. It is set out in three sections. From 'Spring', to being among trees, to an absence of trees; being amongst flat parks and supermarkets instead. There is some delightful care taken about continuity in these poems. Some are a little overdone ('My Mother Chooses….'), Hutchinson chases down images and sees them change ('Unfinished Poem…'), but reports anyway. A nice way to observe a progression of thought and observation. Her poem,'Meeting Frances Hodgkins' is revealing in more ways than one; ”Frances isn't inside the frame / I want to tell her that / I can't find her” This books is a good read. It is definitely about us.

The Gas Leak. Poems by Anna Jackson. AUP Auckland. $21.99.
Due to be published in February 2006, it is a delight to give this book some prior notice. I remember a wonderful poem by Dennis List (now an Australian writer/novelist) called 'The Great Wellington Gas Explosion' (Caveman Press 1971). However this book is basically about family relationships. A novel, no less, in poetry format. Why not? It works well to me. Jackson would probably be uneasy writing official and authentic histories, deeply researched - plumping instead for a creative essay in poetry. The master key is the gas man's weapon, as his desire for secrecy: 'A master key is easy to procure; he “never brings his wife home any news”. In every family, hierarchical positioning is paramount. This works and wends its way throughout the book - successfully, I should say. The notes at the end of the book are not helpful except as an aid to understanding the last few poems, in which elements of convoluted desperation appear. But please do not let this put you off. A good read.

Leema's Llamas. Poetry by Will Fraser. Picaro Press, Australia.
This is Will Fraser's first book, although older - he has lived in Aust and NZ since 1952. For the past ten years he has concentrated on poetry; doing, by the look of this small booklet (24pp) some good work. I had to spend some time on each one. There is a conflict here with the journalist/reporter and creative poet. ('Not Being There') but it is well put - a mature mind at work. The 'flame' is “a beacon / for / dreamers / locked / in a squared space / temporal”. You have to read the rest to get the proper context, however this is a very compact and readable collection.

Snapshots of a Mind. Poetry by Alan Papprill. $10, fro the author, 6 Franco Lane, Dannemora, Manakau City.
I am grateful for receipt of this book, which certainly shows the diversity and range of talent of this poet. The family photos are blurry for no other reason than technical problems it would seem. Alan Papprill's is an external word that shows surprising insights, anyway. I liked 'Marbles' where the revered marbles (of youth) just 'disappeared' as they do when childhood departs you. We deserve a much bigger and more comprehensive collection of poems from Alan Papprill. If this is just a start, it is certainly a very good one! Adolescence is wonderful and even the greater if you can remember it., as Alan Papprill does. Good work. When you grow up, don't let it all evaporate. There is some triteness in some of them though: 'The Little Red Hen' ends in something that is “in the farmyard of their minds”. It lacks a credible lead-up to that. But this collection has lots of delightful secrets. Buy the book and discover them.

Mahones - Anthology: Four Poets. Earl of Seacliff Art Workshop. Four Poets; Bill Dacker, Michael O'Leary, Mark Pirie and Iain Sharp. $14.95.
This quartet is billed as four 'experienced New Zealand Poets'. Well, sure they are! Bill Dacker of these is probably the least known and obviously struggles a little with the medium of poetry here; his work showing the influence of his previous non-fiction books - local histories and the like. Never mind, his poems translate into something eminently readable. Michael O'Leary as always, produces something 'out of the box', although a lot of it missed me. But on to Mark Pirie who is deeply into the 'culture' of what happens before, during and after parties. This is worth a read, really. He expresses the angst of youth well. This book is actually moulded on the U.S. Punk Band, 'Ramones' and all the participating poets take part in this theme. It is nice, as a style re-make. Actually, the poems of Iain Sharp impressed me the most. “Swallow Your Pride' has to do with the theme but 'Smoke', (about his father's smoking habits), while little to do with the theme, is quite powerful anyway. I think Sharp is a most under-rated poet. 'Banana Head' is a great 'let-out' for an entrapped book reviewer. I look forward to a collection of Iain Sharp's poetry.

Voice Carried my Family. Poems by Robert O'Sullivan, Auckland University Press, NZ, $21.99.
Robert O'Sullivan is a prolific writer - since 1986, with five books of poetry so far. An important Maori writer; maybe a successor to Hone Tuwhare? He is am important educator, too; teaching creative writing at the University of Hawaii, now. He is on te editorial board of the electronic magazine, “Trout”, as well. His poetry is imaginative, but a lot of it looks like doggerel to me. As if he wasn't 'there' when he thought of it. His is a heart felt keenly in the brain. 'London Haka' is a bit of a scrambly mess. It is all strained, re-strained and comes to a head in: 'Fruition', in the lines (from '13 Ways of Looking at a Blackbrider': “I my shadow has come to take my place / again - has become daring - stands in the brightest sun / where people proclaim he is like me”. O'Sullivan in my opinion has some way to go before he achieves a truly individualistic style. But it's a good enough read anyway, so try it.

Flying Against the Arrow. Poems by Jan Fitzgerald.
Jan is quite special as a poet. Her directness is uncluttered by special references - a bit like Tuwhare's work, which requires no special knowledge of style or culture. Jan's poems have been around a bit and I really look for them. Read 'Ward Ghost' for some revelations. There are other strange poems that will test your emotions and intellect. If you can get a copy you will be rewarded. Try 'Fireplace', “Such a day came to pass / why a chimney stands / in a square of daffodils / battered by the sun” Nice work. More like this. Better get a copy soon.

Past Present, Poems by Peter Dane. Hudson Cresset, Auckland. Published April 2005.
Peter's father was a German and a member of the Nazi Party. His mother was Jewish; forced to divorce in the 1930's. This is a pretty impressive book, at 108 pages; each page packed with really worthwhile content. This is his fourth book of poems. Many biblical references but worthwhile to sort out if you try. Much of his work is self-contained with just a hint of trivia here and there. But it is a big book and you have to admire the passion. There's a lot here. Try it.

Daymoon. Poems by Robin Fry. HeadworX, Wellington, NZ.
Robin Fry's career has been, and is, in broadcasting and the theatre. Lately, a print journalist and editor. Her first book of poems, 'Weather Report' was quite stunning and by all accounts, sold well. Even so, her work is not as well known as it should be. Her real art is communication and she has professional experience in all aspects of it. The book is in four parts, Home Truths, Attachments, Journeys and Flight Paths, this book covers almost every gambit of human experience. None of these are overdone and my favourite is the title poems: 'Daymoon': “His plane rose at dawn / into such a sky / -a silver dart / a sliver of bone in the throat”. Nothing pretentious here, just careful observation and very good craft. 'Classic' is a classic in poems about classics. A lot of fun. A great sense of humour is shown in poems like 'Cooking to Music'. Nice to see amongst a whole plethora of desperately serious poets in NZ. Some poems appear to be overly melodramatic but this is deceptive; they are dark; 'vignettes' at times. In all, a very balanced and satisfying collection.

Three Regrets and a Hymm to Beauty, poems by Ian Wedde. Auckland University Press. 74pp. $21.99.
This book deserves a much longer notice than I can give it here. He has had a long career in poetry, fiction, and is a prize winner and recipient of many awards. He was involved for 10 years, from its inception, with the Te Papa museum and is an acknowledged art critic. These poems continue the consistent high standard of his earlier collections. They hum with busyness and he is adept at 'continuations' or, to put it another way, he is an expert on structure. This reflects itself in his fiction works. Some find Wedde's style a bit clogged but he demands attention and expects you to apply yourself to eventually extract the 'meaning'. If not, go and read something else. A good book to have, and deservedly a best seller, probably. I will dig deeper into this book over the break and into the new year.

Your Secret Life. Harry Ricketts. HeadworX Press, Wellington, NZ. 24.99.
These are new poems from this widely published poet and writer of biographies and other works. He is a teacher in literature in English at Victoria University, Wellington. Ricketts' poems are sometimes thought to be pretty slight but I haven't found this. Deceptively simple, they express a wide range of perceptions and emotions. Most ('Colours') escape the label of 'truism' by a whisker, though. 'Deals' is fun, ending with 'the red dwarf' in a funny sort of way. Some fail; ('Nice'), but not through lack of trying. 'The Dead' is a semi-serious look at death, usefully put I thought. Like, sort of “get a life, forget the dead”. 'Dissolution' is murky but pays off after a second read. There's very little of the maudlin, if any at all, in Ricketts' work. His 'escapes' are masterly, even if some are fizzers. You will be rewarded by reading this book.

Return to CONTENTS