Cresswell, Mary

IN BRIEF

Mary Cresswell is a poet and science editor. Born in Los Angeles, she moved to New Zealand in 1970. Her poetry has appeared in literary journals in New Zealand, Australia, the US, Canada and the UK. Mark Houlahan writes, ‘Cresswell’s poems often use a taut syllabic verse, with six or four compact syllables tempting the reader into the next line and beyond’.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Cresswell, Mary (1937 -) is a poet and science editor.

Cresswell was born in Los Angeles. She spent time living in both Germany and Japan before settling in New Zealand in 1970.

Professionally she has worked as a science editor, copy editor and proofreader.

A widely published poet, Cresswell’s work has appeared in literary journals in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the US and the UK. In 2003 she was one of the four poets who co-authored Millionaire’s Shortbread (University of Otago). In 2008 her manuscript collection Trace Fossils was first runner-up for the inaugural Kathleen Grattan Award, judged by Fleur Adcock. Her collection of satiric verse, Nearest and Dearest, was published by Steele Roberts in 2009.

Writing in the Dominion Post, Mark Houlahan notes that 'Cresswell’s poems often use a taut syllabic verse, with six or four compact syllables tempting the reader into the next line and beyond', he goes on to describe her work as both 'funny and poetic'.

Mary Cresswell lives on the Kapiti Coast.

(Last updated: July 2009)

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Media links and clips

• 'Squaring the Egg' in Umbrella (New York)
• 'Aubade' in Other Voices (Canada)
• ‘The Pass at Grasmere’ in Lighten Up (UK)
• ‘Last Post’ (from Nearest and Dearest)
• 'Recession' (from Nearest and Dearest)
• 'blackwater' in blackmail press)
• 'Appositions' in Umbrella (New York)
• 'Hurricane Wranglers' in Turbine (NZ)
• Interview of Mary Cresswell by Tim Jones, 23 July 2009
• Interview of Mary Cresswell by Janice Freegard, 27 July 2009

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