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Poole, Doug
Writer's File

Doug Poole

Auckland - Tāmaki Makaurau
Poole, Doug
In brief
Doug Poole is a poet, as well as the creator, editor and publisher of online poetry journal blackmail press. His poetry has been widely published in online and print journals and in anthologies, including Landfall, Hawaiian Review and Trout. Of his work he says, ‘The enduring theme of my poetry and ongoing manuscript of Pouliuli [his collection of Samoan poems], is the expression of being Samoan and Afakasi. It is central to me as a poet and writer.’
  • Primary publisher
    Blackmail Press
  • Rights and publicity enquiries
    Dougpoole3@gmail.com
Bio

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Poole, Doug (1970–) is a poet with a background as an electronics technician. He is also the editor and publisher of blackmail press, a self-funded, semi-quarterly online poetry journal that he established in June 2001. Blackmail press promotes new and contemporary poets from New Zealand and abroad with a specific focus on presenting poets of Māori, Pasifika and Asian descent.

Poole is of Samoan and European descent and his Pacific Island heritage is a strong influence on his work: ‘The enduring theme of my poetry and ongoing manuscript of Pouliuli, is the expression of being Samoan and Afakasi [half-caste]. It is central to me as a poet and writer.’ Poulili is Doug Poole’s growing manuscript or collection of ‘Samoan poems’. The other major themes of his work are his family and himself.

Doug Poole’s poetry has been published in a number of anthologies, including Niu Voices: Contemporary Pacific Fiction 1 (Huia Publishers, 2006), Landfall 218: Islands (Otago University Press, 2009), Mauri Ola: Contemporary Polynesian Poetry in English (University of Hawai’i Press, 2010), IKA Journal of Creative Writing: One (Manukau Institute of Technology, 2013), Hawaiian Review: issue 79 ‘Call and Response’ (University of Hawai’i at Manoa, 2014) and Story Board 14 (University of Guam, 2014). His poetry has also been widely published in online journals and resources such as Trout, the New Zealand Electronic Poetry Centre (NZEPC), Mai Review Journal, Soft Blow, Snorkel and Cordite.

In 2008, Poole – with Creative New Zealand support – produced the Polynation performance poetry show, featuring himself with Māori/Pasifika writers Selina Tusitala Marsh, Tim Page, Karlo Mila, Daren Kamali, Serie Barford, Rev. Mua Strickson Pua, Kathryn Hayward-Nathan and Tusiata Avia. The show was performed twice in 2008, at the Queensland Poetry Festival and at Going West festival in Auckland. The show achieved high acclaim from audiences at both events.

In 2009, he collaborated with New Zealand painter Penny Howard on Atārangi Whenua (Shadow Land), which was exhibited in Whangarei and Auckland. This was the second collaboration between Howard and Poole, and revolved around the meeting of two cultures within an individual. Of the collaboration, Poole says, ‘The works produced both poetic and visually are an expression of two different artists’ dialogue of finding one’s cultural identity.’ (blackmail press: issue 34, 2009)

In an interview with blogger and poet Maryanne Pale, he describes his role as a poet as a ‘reconciliator for the past’. He says: ‘I am the product of toil and hope of two generations, part of an immigrant story, and familiar to so many cultures. I grew up within Samoan and English cultures, a collision at times, a celebration at others. Was it difficult? Yes, at times. The stories of how my Grandmother was treated when she first immigrated to New Zealand have never healed. I owe so much to my Grandmother and great-grandparents; I have [an] understanding of issues facing immigrants in New Zealand today. As a poet, I like to think I am a reconciliator for the past.’

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