Through his early life Baxter had struggled with alcoholism, finally overcoming it after joining Alcoholics Anonymous in 1954.
He then turned to that other addiction – coffee.
It was about this time that coffee shops started to spring up around Wellington, some of the more noted ones being the Monde Marie (Mary Seddon); Chez Paree, Suzy's (Suzy van der Kwast); Roy Parsons (Harry Seresin) and of course The Rendezvous.
Many were known to the director of Heritage Art, Henry Newrick, during his university days in the 1960s.
To again quote John Newton, "According to Denise Harland (co-owner of Wellington's Rendezvous coffee shop with husband Ray) Coffee Bar Ballade was typed up on the premises and presented to Ray and Jean as a gift."
The poem marks a crossing point where Baxter's sobriety and incipient sense of social mission meets the proto-bohemian culture of post-war Wellington.
Poetry for Baxter was a sociable thing; to write a poem as a personal gift made creative sense.
And in a light-hearted way, this celebration of cafe life also affirms his political vision; his wish for a kinder, more inclusive New Zealand "where types and tribes are manifold".
Below is the first verse of this four-verse poem:
When harbour waves begin to smoke
And days are dark and winds are cold,
I like to be with other folk
Who share the anarchistic mould;
From the Boss's whip or wives that scold
We thread the City two by two
Where personalities unfold
You'll find us at the Rendezvous …
The poem is attractively framed and signed James K. Baxter.
In the meantime, it is on display at Paige's Bookshop in Guyton St until September 9.
Full information of this and other artworks (paintings, watercolours, photos, etchings and even an artistic motor-bike) in the sale can be found at www.HeritageArtNZ.com.
The catalogue goes online from early September with the auction taking place at 2pm on Saturday, September 11.
