Book Fourteen

THINGS TO DO WITH
KEROSENE

Leicester Kyle

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[1]

Things To Do With
Kerosene


A Consideration

These poems are created from the Handy Hints at the back of Aunt Daisy's Cookery Book. I began the collation while writing another work. There was need for a restorative change of subject, but I soon found they could not be treated lightly – the hints have too serious an intent. While some are bizarre, zany, even dangerous to the user, there is always more to them than one might think.

They come from the thinking of the 1940's and 50's, when we were moving out from a time of deprivation.

Look, says Aunt Daisy, here are ways to smarten up, to paint to gloss to make things new, and to prepare yourselves for better days.

There's a sort of piety here, a kindness, a scent of grace, as well as turps meths ammonia nail polish remover and kerosene. Here are the means for dignity.

Leicester Kyle,
Oct. 2002.

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Contents:

Preface
[2]

Things To Do With Kerosene
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
[10]
[11]
[12]
[13]
[14]
[15]
[16]
[17]
[18]
[19]
[20]
[21]
[22]
[23]
[24]
[25]
[26]
[27]
[28]
[29]
[30]
[31]

Epilogue
[32]

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Published by Heteropholis Press, with the generous assistance of the Buller Community Arts Council.

Further copies may be obtained from P.O. Box 367, Westport, Buller, New Zealand.

© L. H. Kyle
ISBN 0-473-08963-7

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Commentary & References:

A Christmas Book,

for Jack.
With skills, should the lights go out at
Christmas, or the bottom of the world fall
out in the New Year.
from
Leicester.
Thanks for your fine letter. I'll
shortly reply - and do come if you can.

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© Leicester Kyle, October 2002

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Editorial Note

The copytext for the facsimile is my own copy of Leicester's original photocopied text. The initial copytext for the transcription comes from Microsoft Word files found on the hard-drive of Leicester's computer after his death, emended by reference to the facsimile.

- Jack Ross,
Mairangi Bay, March 2012.

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© Leicester Kyle Literary Estate, 2012

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Book Thirteen

DUN HUANG AESTHETIC

DANCE


Leicester Kyle

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Contents:

1. Fa Hwa Sutra Story
[1]

2. Heavenly Palace Music and Dance
[2]

3. Thousand Hands Avalokitecvara
[3]

4. Heavenly Angel Scarf Dance
[4]

5. Offering Bodhisattva
[5]

6. Four Heavenly Kings
[6]

7. Sun & Moon Light Angels
[7]

8. Green Tara
[8]

9. Mandala
[9]

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Commentary & References:

Letter to Jack Ross (22.11.02):

Dear Jack,

Here is the final and full copy of 'Dancing in the Cave', which I've eventually titled 'Dun Huang Aesthetic Dance'. Having done, there's not much that can be done with it, I fear, but you might be interested in the final form. I'll let it hang around for a time.

On Sunday I have a small book-launch: 'Things to do with Kerosene' has been printed, and turns out well. I'll send you a copy in December. The launch is here in my new garage, and is also a garage­-wetting to declare the garage a garage, and is also a belated acknowledgement of my sixty-fifth birthday. It will be a typical Millerton piss-up, with some invited not coming and some not-invited turning up anyway, and going on and on and on until it runs out of basic supplies. Some of the Buller Community Arts Council are coming, and some of the Buller Conservation Society, which is action-packed radical greenie. The two groups crossover, which is odd, and the members tend to look as if they live in Millerton, especially the Arts ones, who also have dangerous houses.

I spent Labour Weekend in Ch.Ch. with my oldest daughter, who wanted to revisit family sites of the past. I was able to catch up with a few of the poets, and in particular with David Howard, who was as pleasant as ever, though I fear I may have irritated him by declining an invitation to record some poems for some sort of posterity [the Aoteaora New Zealand Poetry Sound Archive, in point of fact - JR]; it seemed a poor way to spend a precious evening. I went to 'Antigone' instead, which turned out to be almost as poor - a student production given to portentous trivialities.

Last week I drove down to Hokitika to read some of my Plateau poems at an arts festival there. It promised to be a non-event, but instead was quite a rich and rewarding one, with a large and enthusiastic audience. A botanist had furnished a fine array of slides to back the poems, and all came happily together. Dave Ogle was the organiser, so the basis was pure chaos, but poetry and chaos seem often to feed off each other.

The weather is much improved, and I am having visitors every weekend, which is pleasant. My friends seem to have decided that, as I have now been here for some years and am still well and sane, I must be safe, so I am seeing people I've not seen for many years. I hope you and your parents are thriving, and that your work is doing well. If we don't meet this summer, I hope to come up to Auckland myself late next year, and will see you then, at the least.

Kind regards, Leicester

Leicester Kyle, Residential: Calliope Rd, Millerton, Ph. (03) 782 8608.
Postal: C/O Postal Agency, Ngakawau, Buller, New Zealand.

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© Leicester Kyle, November 2002

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Editorial Note

The copytext for the facsimile is my own copy of Leicester's original photocopied text. The initial copytext for the transcription comes from Microsoft Word files found on the hard-drive of Leicester's computer after his death, emended by reference to the facsimile.

- Jack Ross,
Mairangi Bay, March 2012.

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© Leicester Kyle Literary Estate, 2012

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Book Twelve

A WEDDING IN

TINTOWN


Leicester Kyle

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Contents:

ARGUMENT
[1]

The marriage
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
[10]
[11]
[12]
[13]
[14]
[15]
[16]
[17]
[18]
[19]
[20]
[21]
[22]
[23]
[24]
[25]
[26]
[27]
[28]
[29]
[30]
[31]
[32]
[33]
[34]
[35]

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Commentary & References:

Letter to Jack Ross (26/7/02):

Dear Jack,

Here's another one. I wrote it last year, then let it lie for quite a while, being not confident of its worth; it seems to me to be too low-key with too little poetic content. My aim was to describe the events, with little overt interpretation, and by means of a low tone to - by contrast - heighten and clarify the colours of the day. I don't think this is very successful. My hope is that the peculiar culture of the occasion just might make it interesting enough to be a good read. Towards the end it gets a bit more like E L Masters - I do this to match the relaxing tone of the wedding, and its conclusion.

The wedding is one I took here in Millerton, and this is a faithful account of its proceeding; I've set it in Tintown, a now vanished mining village on the Plateau. I will, as always, be glad of your thoughts on the work.

Thanks for 'Brief', and the inclusion of 'Mr. Emerson and Mr Muir'. I wrote that over a year ago too, and thought it most probably worthless, so I let it lie unregarded, to recently return and do a lot more work at. The end result seemed pretty clean, and to speak clearly for itself, so I'm glad you like it. I shall subscribe to 'Brief' later in the year, with reservation - not against the journal itself, but against literary journals in general, as I have much appreciated my break from them. It has been so peaceful. All I've been getting is 'Landfall' and 'Heat', and have been much refreshed by the pleasures of ignorance. However, I know that ignorance is an immoral state which, for my own spiritual benefit, must be ended. Soon my shelves shall again be stocked with the literary proceedings of the land.

Fortunately, I shall soon have more shelves. The builders are at present at work making me a new garage (a big double one with a work bench), another room at the back of the house, and a new shed. The new room will be for a laundry and storage, which will make more room in the rest of the house for books. When it's all finished, as it soon shall be, I will be well set up indeed, but in the meantime I am much disrupted, chiefly by noise and mud, and from chasing after my dog who is fascinated by the builders.

I much value your comments on 'Bliss', and am pleased you find it intriguing. A number of copies went out to various persons, and so far the response has been slight - generally along the lines of "great poetry and. witty, but what does it mean?"; most seem to find it a little disturbing. In it there is a great deal of K1erkegaard, Socrates, Aristophanes, and classical Christian mysticism e.g. the ventifact on the beach, the hanging basket, the impossible present etc. which is all a probably heady mix but one that is fun to be in.

The Buller Community Arts Council has approached me with an offer to fund the publication of my next work, "Things to do with Kerosene", to the value of $500. I am surprised and very pleased, as I've lived quietly here and not had a high public profile. It's great to have some recognition in my own region; they will also give me a book launch in an historic home at Westport. The collection is very small, and will be about the size of my Plateau poems, and will be nicely done. It will come out in October.

They published an interview with me in the local newspaper, in which it was stated that I have been the parish priest in Millerton for forty years! When I went to correct the error they would do nothing -­ clearly this is the belief that's wanted. The article was so romantic that over the next few days sight-seers drove slowly by, embarrassing the builders. With the interview was put a Donne-ish poem of mine -'A Metaphysic'. Fortunately, as I now have a mortgage, I am forced to remain phlegmatic.

The next work I'm contemplating will be about quilting and marxism; I'll get on to it when this building is over. It's good to have a clear break, and refreshing to have to do with practical things. As usual, I keep very well, and am finding lots of lovely orchids, including a rare and tiny one on a tree in my back yard, yesterday.

Thanks also for your few lines at the back of 'Brief'. When I describe my writing as eccentric I mean ex-centric, which I do decidedly feel I am. When I write poetry I feel much as I did when speaking in England to the English - that I did not use quite the same language, but had word structures intonations and ideas that belonged to a foreign territory.

All the best to you with 'Brief'; I'm sure you'll do well, and I'll keep sending in material, and stuff (everyone always sends in stuff, these days). I hope you continue very well, and that all goes happily.

Kindest regards,

Leicester

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© Leicester Kyle, July 2002

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Editorial Note

The copytext for the facsimile is my own copy of Leicester's original photocopied text. The initial copytext for the transcription (with the exception of pp. 22 & 26) comes from Microsoft Word files found on the hard-drive of Leicester's computer after his death, emended by reference to the facsimile.

- Jack Ross,
Mairangi Bay, March 2012.

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© Leicester Kyle Literary Estate, 2012

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Book Eleven

KING OF BLISS

Leicester Kyle

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[1]


PREFACE

This work concerns a psychotherapeutic event. The obsessive compulsion that features in it is one I once had a good deal to do with.

The clinic that had once been a brothel is one I knew well

Please note that there is no reference in this work to any actual person living or dead, other than myself. To a degree this is an essay in self-mockery.

Leicester Kyle

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I Introduce Myself
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
[10]
[11]

The Second Therapy
[12]
[13]
[14]
[15]
[16]
[17]
[18]

The Third Therapy
[19]
[20]
[21]
[22]
[23]
[24]

The Fourth Therapy
[25]
[26]
[27]
[28]
[29]
[30]

The Fifth Therapy
[31]
[32]
[33]
[34]
[35]
[36]

The Sixth Therapy
[37]
[38]
[39]
[40]
[41]
[42]
[43]
[44]

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Commentary & References:

Letter to Jack Ross (30/5/02):

C/O POstal Agency,
Ngakawau,
Buller.

Dear Jack,

Here is 'King of Bliss'; also included is a developed text from 'Muir', the most interesting book that you gave me. The text much appealed to me, and you might find it suitable for inclusion in 'Brief'.

I have much enjoyed writing 'Bliss', and if you think it worth the trouble do take from it whatever you want for use in 'Brief'. You did ask for my Aunt Daisy poems, and though I have finished writing them they are not yet printed out, and I do not plan to do so until later in the year, when I shall develop them as my next Christmas book. Then, of course, you are most welcome to use them as you suggested. Twelve of them were read at the Ch.Ch. Poets Collective reading, and were well received.

Graham Lindsay and James Norcliffe both urge me to seek wider publication for my work, so I will send 'Bliss' out to a very few others and test the feedback. If that is good I might send the work to AUP or some other firm and see if they will accept it for commercial publication. However, I do realise that acceptance is unlikely, as so little of my work falls into a publishable category, being essentially too eccentric. Also, I do not see publication as a very desirable outcome, being content with the status quo.

My recent visit to Ch.Ch. went well, and I found myself feted and dined most happily, with Graham James David and others. I was invited to return a fortnight later, to deliver a poem at a public occasion in honour of a musician I knew, which I did, and again had a high time. Those are my public appearances for the year, and I now ready myself for the building that is about to come upon me - a new (double) garage, a new shed, and another room onto the back of the house for a laundry and for storage. In the meantime I keep writing, having completed a large work based on a 4th. century text ('8 Great O's'), and am contemplating another to do with quilting - it has a Chinese origin; Zukovsky and Niedecker have a bit to do with it. I also enjoy my dog.

All the best to you; please remember me to your parents, and I hope you continue in good health and creativity for the winter. We have here thunder, snow, sleet, hail, gales, and rain.

Kind regards,

Leicester

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© Leicester Kyle, May 2002

•
Editorial Note

The copytext for both facsimile and transcription is my own copy of Leicester's original photocopied text.

- Jack Ross,
Mairangi Bay, March 2012.

•

© Leicester Kyle Literary Estate, 2012

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