John Barr (poet)
Encyclopedia
John Barr of Craigilee was a Scottish
-New Zealand
poet
.
in 1852, and farmed a property at Halfway Bush. In 1857 he moved with his wife Mary and their four children to Balclutha
, and established a farm which he called Craigilee. He was the founder of the New Zealand Robert Burns
Society.
In his time, he was considered the Laureate of Otago
province, of which he wrote, in Lowland Scots
:
Allen Curnow
described his writing as "this Scots-colonial parritch
... watery gruel at the best."
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
-New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
.
Biography
Born in Paisley, Scotland in 1809, Barr moved to OtagoOtago
Otago is a region of New Zealand in the south of the South Island. The region covers an area of approximately making it the country's second largest region. The population of Otago is...
in 1852, and farmed a property at Halfway Bush. In 1857 he moved with his wife Mary and their four children to Balclutha
Balclutha, New Zealand
Balclutha is a town in Otago, it lies towards the end of the Clutha River on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It is about halfway between Dunedin and Invercargill on the Main South Line railway, State Highway 1 and the Southern Scenic Route...
, and established a farm which he called Craigilee. He was the founder of the New Zealand Robert Burns
Robert Burns
Robert Burns was a Scottish poet and a lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland, and is celebrated worldwide...
Society.
In his time, he was considered the Laureate of Otago
Otago
Otago is a region of New Zealand in the south of the South Island. The region covers an area of approximately making it the country's second largest region. The population of Otago is...
province, of which he wrote, in Lowland Scots
Scots language
Scots is the Germanic language variety spoken in Lowland Scotland and parts of Ulster . It is sometimes called Lowland Scots to distinguish it from Scottish Gaelic, the Celtic language variety spoken in most of the western Highlands and in the Hebrides.Since there are no universally accepted...
:
- There's nae place like Otago yet,
- There's nae wee beggar weans,
- Or auld men shivering at our doors
- To beg for scraps or banez
Allen Curnow
Allen Curnow
Thomas Allen Munro Curnow ONZ CBE was a New Zealand poet and journalist. Curnow was born in Timaru and educated at Christchurch Boys' High School, Canterbury University, and Auckland University...
described his writing as "this Scots-colonial parritch
Porridge
Porridge is a dish made by boiling oats or other cereal meals in water, milk, or both. It is usually served hot in a bowl or dish...
... watery gruel at the best."