I.
A LETTER FROM VIVIENNE PLUMB
Vivienne Plumb (b. 1955 - ) is an
award-winning writer. Her debut collection of ten short stories The Wife who Spoke Japanese in Her Sleep (1993) won the 1994 NZSA Best First Book Award for fiction. Love Knots (1994) is her first playscript, Salamanca (1998) is her first collection of poems,
and Secret City (2003) is her first
novel. President of the New Land Poetry Society, she has won numerous awards
and honours for her writing.
1.
38 Drummond St,
Mt
Cook, Wellington
Aotearoa New Zealand
17th
March, 1999
Dear Dr
Singh,
Thank you
very much for your letter and photocopy of your introduction and article on my
playscript, Love Knots, for Creative
Forum.
I found both
very interesting to read. I enclose a copy of an interview between myself and
Dr Antonella Sarti of Italy, which has subsequently been published in her new
book, ‘Spiritcarvers’. (I enclose an order form for the book – it is a
collection of interviews with New Zealand authors.) There is now quite a bit of global interest in
New Zealand writing, which we all find very exciting.
Your
introduction was informative. I wondered
whether you talked at all about Janet Frame (you didn’t send me the complete
intro). She is still alive and her
novels and autobiographies have been a great influence on recent New Zealand
literature, as much as Colin McCahon is an ongoing influence in present day New
Zealand art.
I am
presently working on a new collection of poetry (my first collection, Salamanca, was published during 1998),
and have been funded with a writing grant to complete an hour length solo piece for the theatre. Later in the year I hope to read at the
Queensland Poetry Festival in Brisbane, Australia.
Thank you
once again for your letter and photocopies.
It is wonderful to see so much interest in New Zealand literature in
India, a country that has been the source of so much rich literature itself.
Best
regards,
Vivienne
Plumb
II.
A LETTER FROM LORNA S. ANKER
Lorna S. Anker (1914-2000) is New Zealand’s first woman war poet whose Ellen’s Vigil (1996) contains
themes ranging from Boer War effects through World War I and II.
She also authored My Streetlamp Dances (1989) and From a Particular
Stave (1992). She is a poet of deep
sensitivity and humane concerns. Bernadette Hall recently edited an anthology
of Lorna Anker’s poems, The Judas Tree: Poems (2013) to resurrect her reputation.
1.
149 Mt Pleasant Road
Chrustchurch
8
New
Zealand
26th
September 1997
Dear Sir,
William E. Morris, International poet and author of Tauranga,
New Zealand, has suggested I write to you and forward a copy of my third
collection of poems, which has been favourably received by reviewers.
I am most impressed by the list your accomplishments
in the literary/poetic field, and also your desire to share one of the “gold
mines” of language expression. A global
vision is a gift you so willingly extend, and that is rare…
I think the book will suffice to encapsulate the facts
re. my writing, as this “Ellen’s Vigil” portrays. I take no small satisfaction from being New
Zealand’s first woman war-poet.
Please consider the book as a gift not requiring
payment. (It holds the key to my temperament and talent.) You may find something suitable for your
project in the contents, and I shall look forward to hearing from you on this
topic.
Best wishes
Yours cordially,
Lorna Staveley Anker
2.
15
March 1998
Dr R.K. Singh,
Thank you for your kind gesture (along with Dr Wm
Morris, Tauranga) in promoting my poetry to an international level. I’m sure it will spur me on to further
activity creative wise.
I have received the Biographical Questionnaire, and
I’m checking details for the Cambridge Centre and hope to provide names of
other suitable aspirants.
I was interested in your son’s situation which could
generate mixed emotions in any family-circle.
I trust he will be successful. I
have two grown sons—an artist (graphic design tutor), and the younger in
electronics, but no soldier at present!
As a token of my gratitude, I am giving you a copy
of my second book (earlier than “Ellen’s
Vigil”). The title derives from my family name STAVELEY, which was our
first-born son’s Christian name. He died tragically at 21 years, so the book
title embodies his memory as well as the musical stave. I used the traditional Italian terms (where
suitable), at the lover edge of some poems to highlight the mood in which they
were conceived. Also the text of most
poems is richly musical, because of the alliteration, concealed rhyme, assonance,
etc.
The little harp is a copy of a famous ancient Welsh
harp, also a cause to celebrate my son’s memory, as he had a strong Welsh
inheritance from my husband’s (his father’s) ancestry.
I trust this “dissertation” has been of relevance for you and not tedious…
I trust you may enjoy browsing through the poems, a
few of which were used in the war-topic selection for Ellen’s Vigil, my third
book.
Yours Sincerely,
Lorna Anker
III.
LETTERS FROM ROSEMARY MENZIES
Rosemary Menzies, widely published and anthologized, is a
notable New Zealand poet, who write about the tragedy of Bosnian war which
affected the lives of thousands of individuals.
Her poetry collections, Poems for Bosnia
(1995), New Poems for Bosnia (1998), and Omarska Camp (1998) derive from her first-hand experience of the
fear-filled and tragic circumstances of the lives of women in Bosnia and
Croatia. She was involved there as an independent volunteer during the
war. Her other works include More
than Words (1980), I asked the Moon (1981), Whitewave and Undertow (1986), and To Where the Bare Earth Waits
(1988).
1.
21 Wernham Place
Birkenhead
Auckland 10
New Zealand
March 13, 1998
Dear Dr Singh
I am enclosing the article that Peter Dane has written to be
included in your anthology.
As I told you in my last letter the timing was very difficult
for him as he was moving house and was living in a house in the country, bare
of all books, references, typewriter, etc. The article is not as long as you
had expected, but we hope that it will be of use and interest. Might I ask if there is a fee for his
article? Peter himself has not mentioned it.
I am asking, as my own
question. I understand if circumstances
preclude payment.
I am enclosing a copy of the piece LOOK, YOU LOT!
Referred to in the article. My new book NEW
POEMS FOR BOSNIA and OMARSKA CAMP will not be launched for about two more
weeks.
I am also sending you a fuller ‘writing biography’ in case it
is helpful. The other fact that I shall
mention, in view of the opening remarks
in Peter’s article, is that I am
a 4th generation New Zealander. My ancestors were among some of the
earliest settlers to New Zealand. They
came from Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England – a very typical background for
the time.
Peter Dane is retired
from his position in the English Department at Auckland University. He himself
is a writer and poet. He has been, and still is, very active in social,
environmental and ecological issues.
My very good wishes to you and I wish you success in this
work that you are editing.
Yours sincerely,
Rosemary Menzies
2.
April
1, 1998
Dear Dr Singh,
Thank you for your letter of 23.3.98.
Peter Dane’s address is: R.D. 1
Jack Bay
Russell
Bay of
Islands
New Zealand
I understand completely that there will not be a fee for him,
and I know that he will too. There are
so many such labours of love and I want to express my appreciation for what you
are doing. I trust that you understand,
though, why I asked on Peter’s behalf. I
too want to thank him.
Your comment that perhaps it is correct that my poetry is
“too true to be art” has caused me considerable reflection. And a mixture of feelings. But I am glad that you enjoyed reading my
poems and that they touched you in some way.
My very best wishes for all that you are working with.
With kindest regards,
Rosemary Menzes
3.
C/o Alić
Ejuba Ademovića 6
71000 Sarajevo
Bosna Hercegovina
Jan. 22 1999
Dear
Professor Singh
I have just
today received your card forwarded to me by my family from New Zealand. Thank you so much for your greetings and good
wishes, as well as for the news about Creative
Forum article. I do look forward to
reading it.
I have been
over here since last June and intend to be here for a further few months. It is a very sad situation indeed, not at all
clear to most outsiders who tend to lump criminals and victims together in the
same confused heap. But there is deep
injustice, with no real signs of solution, and a depression which was not so
visible at the end of 1995 when Dayton stopped the actual killing. At that time, people believed and had hope in
a future. Now, with, I think, 85%
without jobs, and therefore no money, pensions etc. and most people unable to
return to their own homes or towns, the reality that they face daily is grim.
I distribute
money from the fund in NZ to individuals and families whose needs are
desperate, but it is such a small contribution compared with what is needed.
My book NEW POEMS FOR BOSNIA has been translated
into Bosnian by one of their leading poets.
It should be ready for its launch in a few days’ time. The Ministry of Culture, Education and
Science wants 3000 copies to distribute to schools and libraries throughout
Bosnia, and I hope to go on a poetry reading tour to help with
distribution. I have taken part in other
readings here, and in Makedonia, and a whole evening was devoted to my poetry
in north Bosnia last October. I felt very honoured.
I would like
to wish you a very fulfilling 1999, good in every way. Thank you again for
keeping in touch and for keeping me informed about the article on NZ writing.
With
greetings and kindest regards
Rosemary
Menzies
4.
March
15, 1999
Dear Dr Singh
Thank you
very much for your letter of February 4
and also for the copy of the article on New Zealand writing. I am grateful for all the work that went into
it, as far as my own writing is concerned; and the article is very interesting
to read.
I was
worried about the title given immediately after my name, i.e. “VERY FEW OF US
FEEL NORMAL”. This line from one of my
poems referred very specifically to people living here in Bosnia after the
recent war. It is not a general comment
in any sense, and placed where it is as the title of a piece of writing about
me as a New Zealand writer, it is
misleading, out of context and not really clarified.
However, I
do thank you again for all your work and willingness to include me in the
paper. I very much appreciate it.
My new book NEW
POEMS FOR BOSNIA has been launched here.
It now exists in a 2 book bilingual edition (Bosnian and English). The book launch was a beautiful occasion, covered by TV and
radio. I felt very honoured.
I wish you
well with all your own work. You must be
an extremely busy person.
I shall be
here probably for a further 6-8 weeks, before returning to New Zealand.
With kindest
good wishes
Rosemary
Menzies
IV.
A LETTER FROM PETER DANE
Peter Dane, who retired from the English Department
at Auckland University, was a respected writer, poet and social activist.
Peter & Gabi DANE
Kempthorne Road
R.D.1, Jacks Bay
RUSSELL 0255
25 – 3 – 99
Dear Professor
Singh,
At long last
I have received my copy of Creative Forum on NZ Lit. interesting
reading. I particularly liked the
contribution by William Morris. I must
confess that many of the authors discussed are new to me: I am not widely read
in NZ Lit & I’ve not kept up with recent publications. I’m surprised that Elspeth Sandys isn’t
mentioned once. I would have thought she
would by now be a NZ writer worthy of note.
Enemy Territory, River Lines & Riding to Jerusalem are contemporary
& good. Her earlier The Broken Tree & Finding Out gain on re-reading. I particularly like A Passing Stranger, soon to be published I hope. It’s a short &
searching re-appraisal of a dead Maori who spent much of his life in maximum
securityin Paremoremo prison, & of his impact on the lives of others.
Thank you
for the letter & the photocopy of my contribution. Pity
about the misprint on p. 133. Just after the second poem it should be ‘it
sings’—which leads onto the ‘pace and musical mole’ of the paragraph’s
concluding sentence. However….
Good to know
that there is so much interest in NZ Lit at an Indian tertiary institution! I
guess you bear some responsibility for that!
Keep at it!
With my best
wishes
Peter Dane
V.
A LETTER FROM ZHANG ZHI
Dr Zhang Zhi is President of The
International Poetry Translation and Research Centre and Executive
Editor-in-Chief of the multilingual World Poetry Quarterly, published
from Chongqing City, P.R. China. Besides being a distinguished poet, translator and critic in contemporary China with several
international publications to his credit, he is edits World Poetry Yearbook and Dictionary of Contemporary International
Poets.
March 4, 2005
Dear Prof.
R.K. Singh,
I am sending
you herewith the new issue of WPQ No. 37
which I hope you will find interesting and enjoyable.
I know you
have always been a leading authority in poetry appreciation and your opinion is
highly valued amongst scholars within the literary circle. I wonder if you would be so kind as to take a
look at a number of poetry works composed by my friend, Dr. Choi Laisheung
entitled THE HEART OF FLUTE, EXPECTATION, THE REMOTE MOUNTAIN and
THE INSPIRING SPRING and share with your critique. I believe she is one of the best contemporary
Chinese poetess and she would most certainly welcome your view on her
works. In order to give due credit and
acknowledgement to your criticism, it is proposed that your review will be
published as part of the above poetry works and in that regard, would it be all
right for you to send us a short write-up on your distinguished career and
perhaps even a picture of yours for our readers’ benefit. Of course, we will be delighted to send you a
copy of the final work complete with your reviews and as a mark of our thanks
to you, a small token of appreciation.
Once again,
I am much obliged for your indulgence.
With many
heartfelt thanks and kind regards,
Yours
sincerely,
Zhang Zhi
VI.
LETTERS FROM ANNEKE BUYS
Anneke Buys is a dedicated Baha’i from The
Netherlands. Our faith and poetry brought us together. She writes in Dutch,
English and Espiranto.
1.
4
February 1989
Dear Dr
Singh, Allah-u-Abha
Thank you
for sending the poem “Homebird” as it appeared in Creative Forum.
From what
one can see in just one leaf, the magazine looks attractive and I hope it will
find subscribers enough to continue appearing.
I hope that
by now you are feeling better, and say prayers for your recovery. Often the physical situation is an indication
of the spiritual one. When one is in a
period of stagnancy, spiritually speaking, one often feels content for a
while. Then one gets depressed and
physically less well as a first step towards renewed spiritual growth. One seems to follow the other, and of course,
one influences the other, too!
Did you
write any new poems? Poetry is such a
strong means of getting to know oneself, to solve inner problems by voicing
them different points of view, don’t you think?
I am looking
forward to the fast as a period of spiritual renewal and hope that after it I
may be able to write new poems again. At
present I am first trying to write, but only a few nice ideas and good lines
are the result yet.
Last year we
had a slide show about the Lotos Temple by one of the friends who attended its
inauguration. One of the non-Baha’is who came wanted to know more about it so
in September he was invited to a talk by the Architect. Last month he told us he would like to attend
meetings that are open to public, and he came to our prayer meeting (a Sunday
morning once every month). So even in this country the Temple has its
influence, thank God.
I have to
stop now, wishing you all the best and a speedy return of full health,
Best
regards,
Anneke Buys
2.
15
June 1990
Dear Dr.
Singh,
Thank you
for the letter and poems. It took some
time to read them quietly but now I can reply at last.
In a job
such as yours one has frequent periods of being very busy and then more slack
weeks. The same applies to my husband:
he just started planning the vacation period, which is not easy in a children’s
home! Usually it takes several weeks, and most of this work he does at home,
late at night. But the sense of
achievement when all is finished is worth the exertion. I don’t think it will
be helpful to translate the poems—many of them would need explanatory notes,
for instance, like the Indian words or names in them. Moreover, people’s tastes in poetry differ
widely, most people here do not appreciate Indian poetry, they think it
oversweet or naïve. And unfortunately
hardly any literary magazine will publish translations. With Esperanto it is different but they have
hardly any literary magazines! And translating
from one foreign tongue into another I find beyond my abilities—I once tried
English translations of Esperanto poems by a Czech poet but it was impossible
to capture the atmosphere. Had I succeeded, he could have polished it a bit,
knowing some English, and mailed it to some magazines. But it did not work—at least not yet.
I like the
idea of your title poem (no. 6) and smiled over no. 10 (She slams the door…),
the way it gives perspective to the different view on what is important for
different people… And even briefer than Japanese haiku, just as poignant, I
find no. 23 (naked/without ring/my finger/a widow). Here, many people wear only a wedding ring,
no other “ornaments”; widows/widowers
often wear their late spouse’s ring as well: a double band of gold but it
indicates being alone…
I hope you
sent your curriculum vitae to Haifa yet; many people will be needed there as
the buildings are under construction, and also out in the teaching field too
few people have to do too much.
Here are the
addresses. Do not mention “Baha’i” on
this one (Chinese Committee)—Mr. Paul Koh, P.O. Box 54, 12000 Butterworth,
Penang, Malaysia.
--National
Spiritual Assembly, 149-13 Hsin Sheng Nan Lu, Section 1, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
I hadn’t
heard about “Poet” running into trouble. I received the first 2 – 3 issues for
this year in May.
Congratulations on being included in World Poetry. And on the
long article on your work. Up to now, I
had a nice interview in the local paper and one in a small literary magazine—in
both the Faith was mentioned as the main basis for my work and life. Which it
is.
Yes, pray
for me please, as I will pray for you
and your family.
Best
regards,
Anneke
3.
16
April 1993
Dear Dr. Singh, Allah-u-Abha!
Thank you for the letter that arrived just after Naw-Ruz. Our
community celebrated it with a dinner for the Baha’i families and their
friends. All in a relaxed, happy atmosphere.
Yes, I am preparing to travel in Romania: 14-20 May. I look
forward to it very much.
By now, I walk nearly straight but cannot easily bend or
crouch yet. The upper arms still need
rest and special exercises because of overstretched tendons, but on the whole,
progress is steady, thanks to regular exercise.
By now, you will have been to Delhi for that interview
concerning a professorship. I hope and
pray that it went well for you.
Isn’t it strange, the way you keep trying to find work
elsewhere and still have to stay in Dhanbad? Apparently there is a hidden jewel
of wisdom there for you—and until you find it, you cannot leave… often life
feels like that, I think.
Congratulations on your appearance in Two Poets—I hope it will be received well! I did not send any poems for World Poetry
this time—am glad to hear your poem appeared in it.
Yes, I sent work to Poetic
Voices, and one was used. As the
editor indicates that they cannot consider new work for a while I’ll send poems
by the end of this year—which should leave them time for clearing up the
backlog.
Skylark published one of my poems last
year—more are to appear, though I haven’t seen these yet.
At present I do not find time and quiet for creative work,
even for translations. So many things
needed attention—the area convention, the BAFA book keeping and other work,
plans for the journey, garden work…. But I hope to try my hand on the theme for
the new local writers’ group: Faithfulness.
Maybe I’ll write a prose piece first, like a brainstorming session, then
pick up a few ideas from it to write one or two haiku poems on. Depending on my small amount of skill instead
of on inspiration…. I wonder whether it will work. If anything worthwhile comes from it I’ll make an English translation for
you.
And Now
Softly between each word
silence sifts down.
Now
between silences faint light shines
on your heart of hearts
along with your mouth
the door closes
relief ships in
to the rhythm of my heart
now from between the shards
happiness is picked up again.
Anneke Buys, 1988
Translation 1990
Warm Baha’i
love,
Anneke
4.
2
August 1993
Dear Dr.
Singh, Allah-u-Abha!
Sincere
congratulations on your promotion to full professor. The kind of
jealousy you describe I also find in a book I am at present reading, a
Dutch novel: Among Professors by W.F.
Hermans. The reactions to the fact that one of the professors in a provincial
university is awarded the Nobel Prize.
From this I can guess what it is like for you…
Thank you
for sending my poems to that small magazine; as a result, I was asked to send
work to Dr. Skanda Prasad for several publications. An unexpected side effect
of your kindness.
I haven’t
yet received Skylark. I suppose it
will arrive by surface mail; Baldev Mirza promised to send it.
You
described the weather. We have a fairly mild, very wet summer. The rain was much needed as the ground water
level was far too low. We were lucky: though it rained during our vacation we
could take down our tent dry (on both occasions); no dripping wet yards of
cloth to hang out wherever possible!
How did your
inaugural lecture go, what was it about?
And what about the legal implications of the construction of the
crematorium? So many things to consume
your time and energy….
The journey
to Romania went well. Our son is home
now; Klaas and our younger son went to take him home and brought boxes of
medical supplies for a hospital, and clothes.
They also met our son’s fiancée, Simona! I met her in May, before they
decided to marry. She is a student of languages,
will study Norwegian in Oslo for 9 months. Meanwhile, Menno will learn about
computer work and publishing, so he can work at the Baha’i publishing and
printing house in Cluj while Simona finishes her studies there. I think they will marry in 10-11 months. We
both feel that this relationship is good, both for Menno and Simona. And they
will be a strong support for their Baha’i community too. The community is big (for Europe) and needs
much deepening. Having 450 Baha’is in
one town means lots of problems for the L.S.A.
(all young, new Baha’is) that has
little experience yet. Menno was
caretaker of the local centre; fortunately they have a good replacement for
him.
The country
is poor, government corrupt (a kleptocracy), the people frustrated, tired. It is good to have been there, so I can
understand a bit of what is going on.
When I was
there, only 15% of the fields had been sown; the oil company speculated
with petrol and so the tractors could
not work. Thus a country that could
provide wheat for half of Europe will have to import it and prices will rocket
again. When I was there, train fare was raised 90% overnight… To me it was
extremely cheap still. But local people
earn only US $20 a month (or less),
which clearly is not enough as inflation since 1989 is 4000%.
There is a
lot to do still in the world—over there, but here as well. Why, for instance,
does the government restrict the inflow of refugees, the amount of help given,
why can no one stop the “war” in former Yugoslavia and elsewhere…
Waking up
No dreams last night
(how do I know I was alive?)
only warm silence till
you moved; hesitating your hand
on my hair, tender your mouth
near mine, waking up together
reality better than dream.
--Anneke Buys, 1989
The Dutch
original will appear in a collection that I am having printed privately. It will be called “Droomwerld” (Dreamworld).
Sincere
regards, warm prayers
Anneke
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