Daddy Longlegs

Trevor Reeves, a living room full of printing press, just enough bread for the power, and what have you? Three books of poetry, three more planned, and a magazine called Cave. Even if 1971 was a good year for poets, with Edge and Fragments starting up in Christchurch, 1972 promises to be even better. In fact, many of the outlets for talent have had to follow Landfall's erudite example, and are pestering people for contributions. Very flattering to receive that letter-in-the-mail! Still, if I hear one more failed poet, or would-be editor, complaining about the lack of openings to get published in this bardic country I shall take up farming - oh no, even the N.Z. Farmer regularly prints verse of sorts.

If you want to have a go at getting pub lished, nothing better for a first try than our own Argot! (The first issue will be appearing soon) Send your submissions along to the Salient Office, or post to the Editor Argot, Box 196, Wellington. No bribes accepted except as folded banknotes. Reply guaranteed sometime. A second bet could perhaps be placed on Trevor Reeves, Caveman Press, Box 1458 Dunedin. Cave has not appeared yet, but is due any time.

Its a non-profit organisation and prints reasonable quality publications. Browse through the three that are already out - Skyhook by Lindsay Smith. Jesus Hobo by Tony Beyer, and the Bare Remembrance by Alan Loney. Best of all, found yourself a Literary Society, apply for a grant, produce your own work - broadsheets, a booklet, what you will.

Long years ago (about six) Wellington was woken by an old time Quaker, complete with tall hat, reading Paradise Lost backwards (tsoL esidaraP) at midnight outside the Taj Mahal. Two years later, on the day set aside for Eeyore's Birthday, the Autumn Equinox, and the Lit Soc AGM, the dawn was broken by the rousing Old English of Beowulf stridently resounding from the gun emplacements on Tinakori Hill. The next year two romantic teenage opossums were bewitched by a candlelight gathering in the graveyard. Broadsheets and issues of Experiment have been sprouting sporadically for more than fifteen years, including the incredible 1966 edition of Frogslegs & Hotchiwitchi. Previously known as "Experiment" or Mondongo. Bogus issue: 640 pages! which was auctioned off in the Studass foyer. So do not despair. Life provides many solutions and even more problems.

I see a wall in front of me

Shall I

Look for a hole in it Climb over it

Or pretend its not there and go somewhere else?