The Essence of Words

If books and literature in novel and short story form are the power of words, then poetry may be considered the essence or flavour of words. Sometimes short and pithy, sometimes longer and rambling, they take the reader on a personal journey.



Auckland Libraries now has a fantastic resource for all poetry lovers that you can access with your library card.


Columbia Granger's World of Poetry contains over 250,000 poems in full text and 450,000 citations. The poems in full text are the most widely-read in the English language, as well as in Spanish, French, German, and Italian. Included also is poetry in Portuguese, Polish, Yiddish, Welsh, Gaelic, and other Celtic languages, as well as poems in the ancient languages: Anglo-Saxon, Provencal and Latin. There is complete coverage of the works of several individual great poets, including the complete poems of Shelley, Blake, Burns, Keats, Marvell, Poe, Unamuno, Heine, Baudelaire, and other major poets.

In addition you will find a wealth of current poetry from some of the best poetry periodicals, such as Poetry Magazine, The Southern Review, and Poetry Northwest.

Plus you can find commentaries on the poems and biographies of the poet's lives. Full text copies of entire books are included in the resource including titles on Chinese and Asian literature.

If poetry closer to home is more your think, pick up the just released Chords & other poems by Kiwi balladeer Sam Hunt. This slim volume contains the melancholic irreverance I have come to expect from Sam Hunt. It suits the moods of the rainy cold winter months admirably.

Top 5 on Friday - Poetry

Today is National Poetry Day, so it seems appropriate that I delve into the non-fiction shelves to talk to you about my favourite poetry. I have to admit straight away that I am not normally a poetry reader, but like most things, I know what I like (which changes dependnig on my mood). So here are a few things that pique my interest (in no particular order). If you want to check out Rodney Libraries poetry selection, you can find it on our non-fiction shelves under Call # 821. And don't forget our Poetry day events at Wellsford and Mahurangi East Libraries today.

1. There is a poignancy about war poetry that has appealed to me ever since I studied the World War One poets such as Wilfred Owen. Which is why I have chosen The Happy Warrior - An Anthology of Australian and New Zealand Military Poetry. Many of these read more like ballads and if you consider songs to be a form of poetry that is probably why these appeal to me. From the Boer War and POW's to Dreams of Home and Prayers you can choose a poem for both laughter and tears.


2. The Word Witch - The Magical Verse of Margaret Mahy has something for the whole family. A fantastic collection from a famous New Zealander.


3. Dear to Me - 100 New Zealanders write about their favourite poems. Sometimes it is easier to appreciate poetry if you know why it appeals to other people. It certainly gave me a new insight into poems I had never considered before.


4. Get Some by Sonya Yelich. This thin volume of poetry tells the story of a tour of duty of an American soldier in Iraq. Described as "by turns chilling, funny, deeply sad and thought-provoking" it is also extremely readable. While stories told in verse are not really my thing, this contemporary offering is an exception.


5. Finally another recent addition to our shelves. B is for Bad Poetry by Pamela August Russell. Short, pithy and irreverant they will make you smile, if not burst into laughter. Here's one that I can relate to, which probably means that the poet has achieved her purpose.

Sandy Dennis Briefly
by Pamela August Russell.

I wake up
to my cats
judging me.
They stare
blankly
as if to say,
"Is that what
you had in mind
for your life?
If it is, you may
want to consider
sleeping pills or
a tall bridge
because in our view,
you're pathetic."

Or

they're hungry.

National Poetry Day Poetry Aloud

The competition has now closed and all of the entries are up on the website. Thanks to the schools and students who submitted entries. The judge will have a difficult time picking a favourite from all the poems. (There's also a little bit of karaoke!)

National Poetry Day Poetry Aloud competition - only a couple of days left

There are only a couple of days left for kids to get their entries in for the poetry competition. Tomarata School have been working hard - well done team! Thanks for your support.

You can listen to the poems that have already been submitted on the competition website.

Poetry Aloud - Podcast Your Poetry Competition

We're halfway through June and halfway through the National Poetry Day Poetry Aloud competition for children in year 4 -13. There are a few entries already which is great to see. Don't miss out! Entries close June 30. Win an MP3 player or other prizes.

Entries are open to any children in Year 4 - Year 13 who are:
- enrolled in a Rodney District school, or
- living in Rodney District but attending school outside the District, or
- being educated in a verifiable home-schooling equivalent

To enter children just need to write their poem and record it. It should then be emailed to rodneylibraries@yahoo.com.au as an MP3 attachment.

Entries must include the following information:

- name of poet- contact details

- the school and year they attend

- their library card number (if they have one)

Rodney Libraries now have free computers with internet access and a range of multimedia features which children can use to record their poems at the library.

National Poetry Day Poetry Aloud

Rodney Libraries are running a competition for students in Years 4 to 13 encouraging them to submit a podcast of an original poem during June. The National Poetry Day Poetry Aloud competition is in celebration of National Poetry Day- this year on July 30 2010. The competition runs from 1 - 30 June. One talented poet will win an MP3 player. Poetry shouldn’t stay on the page – it needs to be shared and read aloud. Podcasting poetry gives children and teens the opportunity to share their creativity with others around Rodney District and New Zealand.
To enter children just need to write their poem and record it. It should then be emailed to rodneylibraries@yahoo.com.au as an attachment.
Entries must include the following information:
- name of poet
- contact details
- the school and year they attend
- their library card number (if they have one)
Rodney Libraries now have free computers with internet access and a range of multimedia features which children can use to record their poems at the library. Library staff can also provide advice about how to do this.

Check out the terms and conditions here, Helpful stuff and how to make a podcast at your local library.

Happy Montana Poetry Day!

Poetry reading sessions on in the libraries today - all welcome

12.00pm Whangaparaoa Library

2.00pm Mahurangi East Library

5.15pm Wellsford Library


Poetry Day is part of the Montana Book Awards which is generously supported by Montana Wines.

Cilla McQueen appointed NZ Poet Laureate

Bluff poet, Cilla McQueen, has been appointed New Zealand Poet Laureate for 2009 – 2011 at a ceremony in the National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa.
Commenting on the award, Cilla McQueen said ‘it’s really nice to hear that people have been reading my poetry. The flipside of the isolation of Bluff is that I don’t have much direct connection with other writers. I’m happy to think that my poetry has a place in the everyday world”.
“It also means that that for two years I’ll have an income I can be sure of because for the last 30 years I’ve stubbornly gone on being a poet living on the edge. I’m also greatly looking forward to working with National Library on the programme for the Laureateship.” she said.
The Minister responsible for the National Library, the Hon Nathan Guy, made the announcement. The National Library administers the award.
‘ We’re delighted to have a poet of Cilla McQueen’s stature and ability as a performer of poetry as Poet Laureate,’ said John Mohi, Director Māori, Pacific and International, National Library, and member of the New Zealand Poet Laureate Advisory Group.
‘As well as producing a collection of poetry, the Poet Laureate’s role is to raise national awareness of the value of reading and writing poetry. We look forward to working with Cilla to shape a vibrant programme of activities, while balancing her need for time to write,’ Mr Mohi said.
The Poet Laureate receives a minimum of $70,000 over two years. The balance of the fund goes to a two-year programme of Poet Laureate activities to promote poetry.
Cilla McQueen is the second person to receive the National Library New Zealand Poet Laureate award, taking over from the 2007 appointee, Aucklander Michele Leggott. The National Library award replaced the Te Mata Estate Poet Laureate award, which celebrated five Poet Laureates.

Cilla McQueen's poetry in the Rodney Libraries collection
More information about the award