NOT FOR BURNING

New Zealand Listener, Volume 30, Issue 778, 18 June 1954, Page 13

NOT FOR BURNING

POEMS, anti ‘anthology edited by Alan R. Dunlop; published by the New Zealand Women Writers and Artists’ Society. ‘THs little book has about 40 poems, by 19 writers, Some are well known: Eileen Duggan and Ruth Gilbert are included: The chief function of such an anthology, however, is to give the young writer an opportunity to see work in print; and thereby to set new standards from fixed milestones. At a time when few journals publish verse of any kind, this is sufficient justification for such a book. ‘ The work is naturally uneven. A lot of it is 80ft, and what isn’t tends to be undisciplined, .. Women writing on war, I have noticed, are shrill snipers; not Big Berthas capable of the persuasive demolition of which I would approve. Similarly, in writing of love rejected, they seem to see man as the snake rather than as Satan; and therefore make us writhe without feeling guilt. Again, there is in their recollections of things ' (continued on next page) ;

BOOKS

(continued from previous page) past an inevitable melancholy that stems from Keats in adolescence rather than from tragedy in real life; or so it sounds. The most accomplished poem in the book is Ruth Gilbert’s charming "Li Po": Asleep in a lacquer pool, A young moon on his breast. Richest in promise is Ruth Nicholls: My Son you be Mute and undone the boy let fall in agony his tears See he had fought alone turned quick to Ges lece There is refreshing humour from Helen Diana Clyde: The ghost of Fry in haste returning, Cries out, "The Lady’s Not For Burning." I've never been in favour of burning

any kind of lady.

Anton

Vogt