The other week I happened to come across a copy of James K Baxter’s ‘Autumn Testament’ (in Hamilton of all places!). This is the last volume he wrote before his death in 1972. This is my first encounter. I have long been intrigued by Baxter’s reputation and by other people’s response to his work but have never felt particularly compelled to read it. I have scarcely been able to put it down.
What follows is a section of prose from Autumn Testament. Feel free to post or email any thoughts. If I am not too lazy I will post more Baxter and other interesting stuff I come across. ;o)
Enjoy.
Under the cold high stars here at Jerusalem it is not easy to recall the mood of rage and rock-bottom frustration that led me, in the town, to think for several months that I was becoming a Marxist. It is difficult to go back in spirit to that claustrophobic labyrinth. Yet all experience asks to be understood.
B- made a good comment this morning, referring to my stay at Macdonald Crescent. ‘It must have been a very barren time for you, Hemi,’ he said. ‘But those experiences often turn out to be the most fruitful in the long run.’
He could be right.
Depersonalisation, centralisation, desacralisation, the three chief scourges of the urban culture. One has to look squarely at the Medusa’s head that turns so many into stone before one can even begin to smile again. But one has to do it without anger. Otherwise the light of the Holy Spirit is excluded from one’s meditation and darkness conquers the soul.
(James K Baxter, Autumn Testament, 1972, Price Milburn and Company: Wellington, pp. 5-6).
P.S: The Wikipedia article on Baxter is a concise and helpful introduction to Baxter.
Kia tau te rangimarie (let peace reign)
No comments:
Post a Comment