Reviewed by Trevor Reeves
The ESAW mini-series of poetry, Earl of Seacliff Art Workshop, Paekakariki,
Wellington, New Zealand. No.15, Stories I've Told, poems by Frances Cherry.
Frances Cherry is a novelist and short story writer and this is her first book of poems. She is a creative writing tutor who lives in Wellington. Like most creative writing teachers, there are tinges of artifice in these and sometimes the seriousness of some of them just doesn't hit home. Like 'Comrade Birchie' for instance. On the other hand, there's very little humour in these. 'Those who were part of my life' is better, an interesting way of expressing memory/old friends, etc. Often the worst of life's experiences turn into the worst of poems unless sculptured in a masterly manner. I find a number of these a bit flat, as if I have heard it all before but made in a new way. However, these all work in their own way, so there's no real loss of enjoyment. Just gives me an appetite to see Cherry's longer works; prose etc. There is some good storytelling ability there, with, I bet, the ability to pull some surprises. These are worth the read.
No.18, Peter Olds. Peter Olds is somewhat of an old campaigner. His work doesn't disappoint here, either. His are all hits, no misses. He writes convincingly about his circumstances in a way that makes it an entirely new experience for this reader. Some are dedicated, but you don't have to know the person who is the subject of the dedication to know what the poem is about. The punctuation, manner of forming the ideas, is sublime, impeccable. Spare, brief, and very revealing. A master of style. Some really humourous lines, like, 'Convesation on the bus': “I'm in love with the blonde / on the bus / She's about my age / only 20 years younger.” Some recipes dot the pages; why not? It could be that 'How to stuff a kiwi' may well give you a really tasty dish. Olds treats memory not as nostalgia, but creatively; not revelling in his past mistakes, but in reverence to them; making them humorous takes on his life, ever insistent to entertain, not brow-beat. Nobody misses out here in Olds' treatment of them - visitor to the doctor, blonde lady on bus, the busker in the mall, cricketers at the Oval, and even Lindsay Rabbitt! Olds' style is spare, detailed, humorous, enlightening… one of New Zealand's very best poets.
Parts of the Moon, Selected Haiku and Senryu 1988-2007 by John O'Connor,
Christchurch NZ $15, 40pp. Published by Post Pressed, Queensland, Australia.
John O'Connor is probably, inarguably, on of New Zealand's better poets - a man with a wealth of experience in the poetic arts. His work has been read in eight languages. Experienced in all sorts of poetic forms, O'Connor he certainly excels with haiku, senryo, etc. He has also been involved, from his base in Christchurch in editing, assisting/advising for several journals. A haiku states the obvious in surprising and fresh new ways. Things that go unnoticed by people are generally looked into deeply by the haiku specialist. I liked “mountain-side / the train climbs its own / sound” I must say, some of these are some of the better haiku I have seen, mainly because of their consistent strength. Seeing is everything and O'Connor does look: “past the manikin / the girl / with the same pout” These haiku etc were made for our entertainment, I suspect, and laudably achieve that task. In the appendix and notes, O'Connor comes with various explanations and enlightenments. It doesn't help me much as I already know its terms and references. Fortunately most of O'Connor's haiku surprise me and I enjoy the visions. So thanks for the book, John. Delightful.
Building the Quoins, Poetry by Michael Curran, UK.
Tangerine Press, London, UK.
This is the best recent small press book I have seen. Limited to 50 copies, it is handcrafted in a beautiful hardbound edition. Some 53 poems in 54 pages in a very distinctive style with no obvious influences although Curran is steeped in the beat generation that preceeded his 38 years of life. He is presently compiling a collected poems and stories of American poet, William Wantling (d.1973) from existing publications and archival material. Such a book about that important and very distinctive writer is long overdue and will be welcomed by all lovers of good writing. Speaking of which, Curran is no slug either. Although not having seen his writing before I was more than pleased to see these mature and interesting pieces. Curran breathes new freshness into well-known subjects such as in 'the quote', where “the opium of the people is / not so much religion / as it is accepted / boredom”. Curran's pieces reflect a strong awareness of fallibility as the frontispiece shows: “nudge the / elbow of time / ask for more / of it”. You can see that working with the ill-fated and stricken William Wantling has affected his thoughts of time and achievement. The nasty business of being human is ever in his thoughts. He does not try to avoid it; in 'new times': “At last I treat you / like the smelly, pasty / stuff you so adore”. And there is no way of changing anything, as in 'celery giants rule', where his friend's father hangs himself: “the inevitability / of everything / was truly / sickening”. But not all is doom and gloom. Curran explores the poetic existence of everything with great aplomb. In 'fresh start': “Give up smoking / eat less / lie more”. So often the lines for existence end up as lines if inevitability. There is a natural warmth in Curran's work that we don't see in some younger striving poets. Some of the younger ones seem to me to be entities from outer space striving to be warm and human. However, warm as he is, Curran does not tolerate fools. About 'the man next door' he concludes: “He fucked off / out of / my / life / when he moved to / Penrith”. Even poets are allowed an outburst now and then. And, whatever one 'is', 'let's talk' concludes “Love is a caterpillar / waiting to happen”. A nice positive note that. A pity this book isn't generally available here. Maybe as part of a larger selection one day, perhaps, hopefully.
Abashed I Stood. A Novel by Fet Milner. Crystal Radio Press, Petone, New Zealand.
Back Burning. Stories by Sylvia Petter, Interactive Press. Imprint of IP, Carindale, Queensland. Sales at
Internet based:
crystalradiopress.co.nz See for price and availability.
The trade copy of this book is available in a larger type format. Nevertheless I will read the smaller type review edition as soon as I can. Meantime I can give you an outline of the book. You can read more about the author at
sales@ipuz.biz/ip/ip.htm
Sylvia Petter is certainly one of the raciest and moving writers I have read. These stories are strong and compelling. They vividly portray characters which, when fleshed out are real and devoid of superfluous descriptions. There is a lovely rumbling inevitability of some of these stories, like a raging river running to the sea. Petter had the benefit of working with Alex Keegan in the UK on his 'boot camp'- writers' course of criticism and self-criticism. What better man to work with and this work of Petter's shows it. It is all very entertaining, as well. 'The Colour of Haze' about the Nazis is especially pungent. Every kid knew there was a row back then but didn't know what it was about. The past can be disturbing for children, too. These are themes that needed to be re-expressed and Petter knows just how to do this to reach a wide audience. The writing is stark and clear. This is a very passionate book. But soaimed and direct. So Hitler spoilt a whole generation, but they still have the memory and never forget. You will have to get this book, if you can - the internet will get it for you.
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