James K. Baxter: Poems

by James K. Baxter, Sam Hunt (Editor)

Including 50 poems by revered New Zealand poet and social activist James K. Baxter, this unique and accessibly sized collection offers an insider's view of the man and his work from his longtime friend and fellow poet Sam Hunt. With a range of familiar and lesser-known poems dating from 1945 to 1972, and a substantial essay by Hunt, this compilation offers a fresh and very personal look at the work of an extraordinarily influential poet.

Genres: Poetry

120 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

James Keir Baxter was a poet, and is a celebrated figure in New Zealand society.

In his critical study Lives of the Poets, Michael Schmidt defines Baxter's 'Jacobean consonantal rhetoric'.Schmidt has claimed that Baxter was 'one of the most precocious poets of the century' whose neglect outside of New Zealand is baffling. His writing was affected by his alcoholism. His work drew upon Dylan Thomas and Yeats; then on MacNeice and Lowell. Michael Schmidt identifies 'an amalgam of Hopkins, Thomas and native atavisms' in Baxter's 'Prelude N.Z.

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mid-century New Zealand poet who should have a much greater reputation in the wider Anglophone world. This selection by Sam Hunt is intended to highlight 'performance' poems and so necessarily is a pretty narrow slice of Baxter's range. Poems are all dated so you do get a nice sense of progression, from Audenesque lyrics of the 40s through more political stuff to a confessional register in the late 60s and early 70s. Similar arc to Robert Lowell--Lowell is a pretty good comparison, really: both essentially formalist (Baxter more loosely), both Catholic converts, both pretty bad to the women in their lives. What I've read here and elsewhere suggests Baxter was also a similar caliber of poet. Definitely going to track down a wider selection.

[johanna (jo) · Rating 2 out of 5]

still not sure i'm reading poetry right.
oh well, i can look knowledgable whenever someone mentions baxter now.

[Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Legendary Kiwi Poet

This collection of Poems brings together some of tbe best of Baxters poems over the years. The poems were selected by Sam Hunt, a younger fellow poet who knew Jim/Hemi well. Baxter was a colourful poet and troubador and the poems ache to be read aloud.

[Max Lowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best read aloud and alone, unless you don’t care what the people on the bus think.
A great intro to some Baxter, i’m sure this is only the first step into the rabbit hole. Some poems must’ve been extremely liberal at the time, but lots would be viewed as unacceptable today. Would recommend.

[Brett Morrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed dabbling in some poetry, especially the Aotearoa perspective. There’s some gems in here and I liked how it made my brain work but I don’t think I’m a poetry girl just yet.