Koe: An Aotearoa ecopoetry anthology

By Chris Reed - Otago University Press | Posted: Friday Sep 27, 2024

A fantastic review by Chris Reed of Koe: An Aotearoa ecopoetry anthology edited by Janet Newman and Robert Sullivan for NZ Booklovers

Koe: An Aotearoa ecopoetry anthology (nzbooklovers.co.nz)

Koe: An Aotearoa ecopoetry anthology is a remarkable collection that brings together over 100 poems from Aotearoa New Zealand, spanning from pre-European times to the present day. Edited by Janet Newman and Robert Sullivan, this anthology offers a comprehensive exploration of the well-trodden path of the relationship between humans and nature, framed within a specifically Aotearoa context. It is a bold and significant contribution to both the local and global ecopoetry scene, positioning the traditions of Māori and European poetic heritage as interconnected, yet distinctive in their response to the land and environment.

The anthology is organised into three sections: The Early Years (poets born in or before the nineteenth century), The Middle Years (the twentieth century), and The Contemporary (twenty-first century) era. This chronological structure provides a fascinating journey through the evolving consciousness of nature and the environment, reflecting the social, cultural, and political shifts of each era. Across these different time frames, the themes of humility, reverence, and interconnectedness with the non-human world emerge as a common thread.

Newman and Sullivan's editorial choices skilfully highlight the unique contributions of both tangata whenua and tangata tiriti. The editors take care to position Māori oral traditions and song poetry alongside English poetic forms, acknowledging both the deep cultural histories and the ongoing impacts of colonisation on Aotearoa’s landscape and its peoples. The inclusion of poems in te reo Māori (with translations) further enriches the collection and ensures that the Indigenous voices at the heart of New Zealand’s ecopoetry are not overlooked.

The title of the anthology, Koe, holds deep symbolic meaning, as Sullivan explains in his foreword. In Māori, ‘koe’ refers to the cry of a bird, a sound that echoes through the bush, the shore, or the marshlands— a visceral, haunting cry that can either resonate with the presence of nature or signify its absence in modern landscapes. This duality runs through the collection as a whole, with poems that celebrate the beauty and power of the natural world, while also lamenting its destruction through colonisation, environmental exploitation, and modern industry.

The anthology's introduction grounds the reader in the gravity of the ecopoetic tradition. Newman sets the tone with a pointed question: "Can poetry save the earth?" The answer, she states plainly, is that while poetry has no material value in changing the world, it can offer a space for reflection, meditation, resistance, and hope. It’s a sobering perspective, one that recognises the limits of art in the face of global ecological crises, but also underlines its vital role in fostering awareness and engagement.

What truly stands out in Koe is the diverse array of voices included. From well-known poets such as Hone Tuwhare, Elizabeth Smither, and Selina Tusitala Marsh, to lesser-known contributors, the collection presents experience and expression. Each poem adds to the anthology, whether it is a traditional whakataukī that warns of environmental loss or a contemporary poem grappling with climate change, nuclear testing, or habitat destruction.

Koe is an essential anthology for anyone interested in ecopoetry or our own literary heritage. Its poems resonate not only within the local context of Aotearoa, but also within the broader global conversation about humanity’s relationship with the earth. Through these poems of celebration, elegy, fear, hope, and activism, Koe offers a profound meditation on the history that holds our future.

Reviewer: Chris Reed

Otago University Press