WELLINGTON POETS

New Zealand Listener, Volume 25, Issue 650, 14 December 1951, Page 7

WELLINGTON POETS

Sir-H. D. Clyde’s letter on the above topic which sought, in fairness, some attention for the poet Ruth Gilbert, trod, I think, a little unfairly upon others concerned to achieve its purpose. First, Mr. Vogt gave two talks on the Wellington poets, and Ruth Gilbert was mentioned in‘ the second of. these. I am sure that Mr, Vogt would not have liked to give the impression that in talking about the capital’s poets he wished to exclude any worthy of mention. However, his main attention was given to a group of poets who have been active on behalf of poetry in -‘Wellington during the past year. These people have endeavoured to take poetry to the public by. sponsoring readings, giving addresses to interested groups, etc., and have been responsible for a general resurgence of interest in poetry which Mr. Vogt chose to see as "a renaissance." This activity, and "the renaissance," were the real subjects of Mr. Vogt’s address, and Ruth Gilbert, as she has not been part of such a movement here, warranted small part in the discussion. No reflection upon her poetic merit is or was intended, and I would agree that her works are superior to many of the other names mentioned on the programme. However, H.. D. Clyde, to prove his case, then sorts out the various qualifications of the "unnamed rest" with small regard to the facts. About half the poets mentioned are members of P.E.N. Many of them have published at least one book of verse. Half, again, have appeared’ also in the periodicals mentioned; and some in important overseas journals. If H. D. Clyde does not know these things, then it is surely time that some such programme as that given by Mr. Vogt drew attention to the activities of our poets. If Mr. Vogt gave the impression that ‘these poets used as some sort of mystical core or home of the heart the University and Training College, and wrote as a group, then it is an impression I hasten to correct. The people dealt with in detail have been writing for years, and owe their strength to their individuality. There is no suggestion of group writing. It is simply that a number of poets have found themselves living in one place, working in one place and studying in one place, and have come together for the purpose of introducing their works en masse to the one public.

LOUIS

JOHNSON

(Wellington).