Soundings. Poems and drawings by Cilla McQueen. Poems. University of Otago Press Box 56, Dunedin. $24.95
I am not familiar with Cilla McQueen's earlier work. This book, and it is a nice production too, is really a gem of a book. Her drawings, impressionist one could say, are broad-brushed, open and generous in content and meaning. It is good to see visual works juxdisposed with poetry. Here it works well. Some of the work is a little journalistically historical, as in "Early Settlers" and the 'smartness' of such a seemingly environmental poem like "Frogs" leaves me a bit cold, as it dissolves into "the bong-bong banjo / call of the pobblebonk." We all search for meanings. I don't think that McQueen falls into an acceptance that woman writers, artists (and especially composers) are not supposed to produce really meaningful works. Rather than pick away at the ineffectiveness of a small number of these poems, it may be instructive to view the context and theme of this book. The sense of pioneering, history and the homeland are pushed logically and consistently all through. Structurally, McQueen is a fine poet with a lot to tell us. Her experiences are ours, in this context. However I struggle to find metaphors or striking images of any strength or memorability. I hope this book will be widely available. It deserves to be. I found it most enjoyable.

Feeding the Dogs. Kay McKenzie Cooke. Otago University Press, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, NZ Poetry. $29.95.
This is Kay Cooke's first book of poems. Her work has been published in a number of magazines, including Trout, Sport, Jaam, All Together Now, Southern Ocean Review, Takahe, NZ Poetry Yearbook and NZ Listener. A lot of the poems are very domestic. Searching for sharp revelations can pay off though. 'A Rosy Future' reveals the ambiguous nightmare of the influence of the looney right on New Zealand. Cooke concludes this poem with "Held responsible / Boffins you see them / sometimes, when they venture / out, needing haircuts / and wearing fawn" A dumbing down and an intrusion of science into natural and normal things. A lot of subtlety here. Kay Cooke's poetry is very normal indeed. Not flashy, nor with stylistic quirks, it appears to me to be totally devoid of self-indulgence. What a relief. Many poets, even in the accepted "loop" run self-indulgence rife with never their word questioned. There's some good descriptive images here. A kind of animation or personification of nature perhaps, but always judiciously done. Never judgmental, as in 'Lawn Bowlers, Queenstown' where you may expect to see it happen. "free cradle / bowls the weight and shape / of babies heads" In the poem 'She Leans, Narrow…' I found the picture painted of the cancer victim was a bit too narrow, but this was more than made up in the somewhat distraught vagueness of 'he Triangle Shop'. This one had obviously been honed from raw material into a nicely tuned exression. I don't see Kay Cooke as an imagist poet who evokes surprising metaphors or images. The literalness of her poetry is her strength. You read, and it all fits into place. Careful craftsmanship. Really good work. This is a very rewarding book.

Swing and Other Stories. Mark Pirie. Earl of Seacliff Art Workshop., Paekakariki, Welington, New Zealand. $19.95.
Pretty quirky stuff, much of this. How to despatch and deal with dead mice in 'How We Killed Them'. Very homely, very readable. Dennis having to answer the phone in 'The Pest' Lesson: don't tolerate your friends telling you their sexual experiences. Or when you do, make sure you've had some yourself. Nicely done! This book is not juvenilia. It simply deals with it, with a smart turn of word and finely tuned eye. Part of the progression of life – most writers would kill this sort of stuff coming out of them just when they think they're getting more profound and mature, therefore worthy of real respect. We'd all miss it! Pirie is a bold writer. 'The Issues' – Such a perceptive view of radio talkback transpires, making you wonder why anybody listens. Pirie brings it to life. 'A Man...' etc is about rape by technology and business, and greed. Not to say the total mindlessness of having to fit in so as to be able to fall over or be pushed. You can tell this writer has read a lot of Bukowski. A good model. In 'It's the Mornings' Mark Pirie reveals most of our delicious nightmares, getting out of bed getting it all wrong. Better to be a guy then a woman like that! Nice ending. Beaut stuff. 'The Articulate Madman' is full of profundity. Talk about facing up to reality! Facial spots and sexual insecurity. Even the most bummer of a human being can make it. 'The Deal' reveals the horrible complexity of modern life. You can get caught up selling things. A lot of effort getting the deal right. Test the rest of these stories yourself. Clean precise characterisation, believable people. Much better than some of the limpid collections about at the moment. Stories for young and old here. Better check it out. It's got to be good for you.

Boat People. Poetry by Tim Jones. Published by HeadworX Press, 26 Grant Road, Thorndon, Wellington.
Following the success of Trim Jones' collecton of stories, "Extreme eather Events" this little book of poems is a welcome event. Jones' ability to 'store up' events is evident in his appealing poem about Aramoana, the hotbed of protest against inappropriate development (smelter) over 20 years ago (I was with him in those days, then). Student days, deliciously recalled in "NEV" (North East Valley, Dunedin) "There's a photo I still look at: / twenty years ago / four of us under the pines" Jones is more personal in his poems than he is in his stories, but there are signs that he is developing a strong individual voice. 'Talkback' is the 'hands on' of struggle. "When this / load of flesh turned running red I / did the job myself / Hence my hands" There's a very even carefulness I all of these poems. About family, the things immediately affecting him. I liked 'Pastoral' "Voices in darkness / shapes on the hillside: / the lion, the lamb / kissing long, slow and hard" There are more like this. Nothing fiery, all carefully observed and recorded, reflective, but all showing the deep concern for environment and family that Tim Jones has. There are stronger pieces 'Frida Kahlo' the meaning you will have to delve for, deeply. All in all, don't let this book pass you by and watch for more from Tim Jones in the future.

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