Black Gold

When publisher and writer Mark Pirie turned 46 in Lockdown 2020, he was reminded of the achievement of one of New Zealand's greatest poets James K Baxter, an early influence on Pirie. Pirie has chosen 46 of his poems (uncollected or new) in honour of Baxter, who died early at age 46.

Pirie's black gold title metaphor digs into the soil of Aotearoa and its history, where Baxter was among the writers who helped forge the local literary tradition in the English language. Pirie's focus (mostly) on New Zealand in this new collection divided into five sections covers its poets, its developing culture and its places and in doing so celebrates the life and achievement of Baxter and others.