Canterbury University Press are hoping to publish an anthology in 2007 about Banks Peninsula and are looking for submissions of poetry and prose (fiction and non-fiction). Editors Coral Atkinson and David Gregory are also looking for extracts from archival letters and diaries, anything really that will celebrate the spirit of the Peninsula. And what’s not to like? I’ll never forget a long weekend Chris and I spent driving around, staying at ‘The Giant’s House’ with extraordinary, prolific, eccentric artist Josie Martin (one of her latest paintings, Pourquoi Pas, right), and scoffing superb food and great wine at French Farm. Bliss. We were looking at real estate after two days.

Anyway, contact Coral on atkinsoc@ihug.co.nz or David on david.j.gregory@xtra.co.nz for detailed guidelines and a submission form. If you don’t have access to email, send an SSAE to Coral Atkinson, 80 Main Road, Governors Bay, Lyttelton RD1 and mark it ‘Anthology Guidelines’.

I’ll bet that mad bunch from Lyttleton, the Catalyst crew, will be rolling their sleeves up for this one. We’ve just received their latest journal (Vol 4) which is admittedly a few months old now, but really good and will stand the test of time on any bookshelf.

Some of the usual suspects such as Jenny Argante, David Howard, Owen Bullock and Mark Pirie are in this lovely little book which has as its feature poet Ron Riddell – writer, peace-activist and director of the Wellington International Poetry Festival. There are also many other excellent poetic finds in the Catalyst (and also some great art). I particularly liked Lucette Hindin, third place-getter in the 2005 Catalyst Poetry Idol contest at the infamous Lyttleton Wunderbar. Her poem Toys Smile (even when they’ve lost limbs) was a return to childhood dreams and suspicions… here’s an excerpt:

No one could say tomorrow
that it didn’t happen –
How came the golden syrup stains onto their slippers?
Why were half the Christmas presents unwrapped?

In the afternoon mud slides were invented
and everyone took a new name of their choosing.
His new name fell in the mud
so he had to go back to his old one,
which was ill-fitting
and pinched around the ankles.

The next night they read
a profound message in the stars:
TOYS SMILE
EVEN WHEN THEY’VE LOST LIMBS.

If you’re down that way, the next poetry open mike night at the Wunderbar is 30th March at 8pm. Be there or never fulfill your inherent promise.