John V. Hicks
Encyclopedia
John Victor Hicks, SOM
(1907–1999) was a Canadian poet
. He was born in London, England but his parents immigrated to New Brunswick
while he was still an infant. The Hicks family later settled in Montreal
where Hicks wrote that he discovered as a boy "the very first whisper of the magic of writing." Although he did not like to travel, Hicks moved to Alberta
then to Saskatchewan
, and finally settled in Prince Albert
where he pursued his profession as an accountant and, over the course of his lifetime, accomplished many artistic achievements.
Hicks began writing poetry in the 1930s; however, he was 71 before he decided to publish his first volume of poetry in 1978. Despite his late start, John Hicks quickly gained distinction in Canadian literary circles and enjoyed part of his "fifteen minutes of fame" as a frequent guest on Peter Gzowski's
Morningside on CBC
. He was also an active member of the Saskatchewan Writers Guild and the League of Canadian Poets
.
Hicks criticized the vulgarity of modern life and, true to his values, lived modestly. He never owned as television set or a vehicle, preferring to walk, even in the most frigid weather. Behind Hicks' old-fashioned exterior he held a lifelong passion for various forms of literature
, J.S. Bach, opera
, the Anglican Church, and loved boxing
, baseball
, model trains -in which he had a small layout in his basement-, pizza
and sherry (together of course), as well as dessert of any kind.
For Hicks, poetry and music were undeniably linked. He performed what he considered to be "active worship" as an organist at St. Albans Cathedral for 60 years. It was his intense spirituality that provided Hicks with everlasting inspiration for his poetry. In total, Hicks published nine volumes of poetry that illustrated the difficulties and joys being an artist. His life paralleled that of T. S. Eliot
, whom Hicks emulated in his own writing.
Though Hicks never formally taught poetry or music, he participated in afternoon teas at the Prince Albert Arts Centre almost daily where he served as a mentor for aspiring artists. Here, his ability to recognize talent drew many young people to him for a review (or a preview). It was Hicks who encouraged the tenor Jon Vickers to pursue a singing career.
Although Hicks never attended university, he was rewarded for his contributions to the arts with an Honorary Doctorate in Literature from the University of Saskatchewan
, the Saskatchewan Order of Merit
, a lifetime award for excellence from the Saskatchewan Arts Board
and several other praises. John Hicks was appointed Prince Albert Writer-in-Residence in 1978, where he was held in high esteem and was often described as the city's most distinguished living citizen.
Even into his late 80's John continued to live in his home, where neighbors and friends would provide him with food, company, and maid services. Though he never had any children, John never blew off a chance to have a conversation with a youngster.
John Victor Hicks died on June 16, 1999 at 92 years of age. He was married to Marjorie (Kisbey) Hicks, who predeceased him in 1986. A portrait sculpture by Hans Holtkamp can be seen at the Prince Albert Arts Centre
.
Works of John Hicks' poetry published by Saskatoon's Thistledown Press:
Note: This profile was taken from the brief profile hung in the Prince Albert Arts Center.
Say what you like I know
the pebble is part of a mountain
ground to bits by ice years
smoothed by water
buffed by wind
cleansed by memory
beyond all else learning
how to lie still
- from Months Mind (1992), pg. 71
Sculptor
I think of you terrible chipping and chaffing
to extract those creatures out of the earth
exhumed from gravestone quarries
and how your eyes must accuse you when
your chisel rests exhausted and your mallet
lies brutal and unwilling in white dust
flecked with grey and greens like seasons
heaped into one and I fear to be buried
in case I should turn into stone and you expose me
for all I am and was and will be and you set me
to stand in the rain and know the rivulets
falling from me like tears and the summer rain
encasing me to wait for no carol spring no
cold rejuvenation and I tell you in ash tones
put down your power tools and let time be still
- from Overheard by Conifers (1996), pg 49
Note: These samples of his work were also taken from the Prince Albert Arts Centre where they are framed along with his brief profile.
Saskatchewan Order of Merit
The Saskatchewan Order of Merit is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. Instituted in 1985 by Lieutenant Governor Frederick Johnson, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier Grant Devine, the order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to...
(1907–1999) was a Canadian 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...
. He was born in London, England but his parents immigrated to New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
while he was still an infant. The Hicks family later settled in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
where Hicks wrote that he discovered as a boy "the very first whisper of the magic of writing." Although he did not like to travel, Hicks moved to Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
then to Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
, and finally settled in Prince Albert
Prince Albert, Saskatchewan
Prince Albert is the third-largest city in Saskatchewan, Canada. It is situated in the centre of the province on the banks of the North Saskatchewan River. The city is known as the "Gateway to the North" because it is the last major centre along the route to the resources of northern Saskatchewan...
where he pursued his profession as an accountant and, over the course of his lifetime, accomplished many artistic achievements.
Hicks began writing poetry in the 1930s; however, he was 71 before he decided to publish his first volume of poetry in 1978. Despite his late start, John Hicks quickly gained distinction in Canadian literary circles and enjoyed part of his "fifteen minutes of fame" as a frequent guest on Peter Gzowski's
Peter Gzowski
Peter Gzowski, was a Canadian broadcaster, writer and reporter, most famous for his work on the CBC radio show Morningside. His first biographer argued that Gzowski's contribution to Canadian media must be considered in the context of efforts by a generation of Canadian nationalists to understand...
Morningside on CBC
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
. He was also an active member of the Saskatchewan Writers Guild and the League of Canadian Poets
League of Canadian Poets
The League of Canadian Poets , a non-profit arts service organization, is the national association of professional publishing and spoken word poets in Canada...
.
Hicks criticized the vulgarity of modern life and, true to his values, lived modestly. He never owned as television set or a vehicle, preferring to walk, even in the most frigid weather. Behind Hicks' old-fashioned exterior he held a lifelong passion for various forms of literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
, J.S. Bach, opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
, the Anglican Church, and loved boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
, baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, model trains -in which he had a small layout in his basement-, pizza
Pizza
Pizza is an oven-baked, flat, disc-shaped bread typically topped with a tomato sauce, cheese and various toppings.Originating in Italy, from the Neapolitan cuisine, the dish has become popular in many parts of the world. An establishment that makes and sells pizzas is called a "pizzeria"...
and sherry (together of course), as well as dessert of any kind.
For Hicks, poetry and music were undeniably linked. He performed what he considered to be "active worship" as an organist at St. Albans Cathedral for 60 years. It was his intense spirituality that provided Hicks with everlasting inspiration for his poetry. In total, Hicks published nine volumes of poetry that illustrated the difficulties and joys being an artist. His life paralleled that of T. S. Eliot
T. S. Eliot
Thomas Stearns "T. S." Eliot OM was a playwright, literary critic, and arguably the most important English-language poet of the 20th century. Although he was born an American he moved to the United Kingdom in 1914 and was naturalised as a British subject in 1927 at age 39.The poem that made his...
, whom Hicks emulated in his own writing.
Though Hicks never formally taught poetry or music, he participated in afternoon teas at the Prince Albert Arts Centre almost daily where he served as a mentor for aspiring artists. Here, his ability to recognize talent drew many young people to him for a review (or a preview). It was Hicks who encouraged the tenor Jon Vickers to pursue a singing career.
Although Hicks never attended university, he was rewarded for his contributions to the arts with an Honorary Doctorate in Literature from the University of Saskatchewan
University of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...
, the Saskatchewan Order of Merit
Saskatchewan Order of Merit
The Saskatchewan Order of Merit is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. Instituted in 1985 by Lieutenant Governor Frederick Johnson, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier Grant Devine, the order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to...
, a lifetime award for excellence from the Saskatchewan Arts Board
Saskatchewan Arts Board
The Saskatchewan Arts Board is an arms-length funding agency that provides grants, programs and services to individuals and groups whose activities have an impact on the arts and the people of Saskatchewan...
and several other praises. John Hicks was appointed Prince Albert Writer-in-Residence in 1978, where he was held in high esteem and was often described as the city's most distinguished living citizen.
Even into his late 80's John continued to live in his home, where neighbors and friends would provide him with food, company, and maid services. Though he never had any children, John never blew off a chance to have a conversation with a youngster.
John Victor Hicks died on June 16, 1999 at 92 years of age. He was married to Marjorie (Kisbey) Hicks, who predeceased him in 1986. A portrait sculpture by Hans Holtkamp can be seen at the Prince Albert Arts Centre
Prince Albert Arts Centre
Former Prince Albert City Hall now Prince Albert Arts Centre is a National Historic Site of Canada located at 1010 Central Ave. Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada. Construction on this city Hall started in 1892, and was completed 1893. A. and W.B. Goodfellow Builders built the city hall with...
.
Works of John Hicks' poetry published by Saskatoon's Thistledown Press:
- Now Is A Far Country (1978)
- Winter Your Sleep (1980)
- Silence Like The Sun (1983)
- Rootless Tree (1985)
- Fives and Sixes (1986)
- Sticks and Strings (1986)
- Months Mind (1992)
- Overheard by Conifers (1996)
- Renovated Rhymes (1997)
Note: This profile was taken from the brief profile hung in the Prince Albert Arts Center.
Samples of his work
AutobiographySay what you like I know
the pebble is part of a mountain
ground to bits by ice years
smoothed by water
buffed by wind
cleansed by memory
beyond all else learning
how to lie still
- from Months Mind (1992), pg. 71
Sculptor
I think of you terrible chipping and chaffing
to extract those creatures out of the earth
exhumed from gravestone quarries
and how your eyes must accuse you when
your chisel rests exhausted and your mallet
lies brutal and unwilling in white dust
flecked with grey and greens like seasons
heaped into one and I fear to be buried
in case I should turn into stone and you expose me
for all I am and was and will be and you set me
to stand in the rain and know the rivulets
falling from me like tears and the summer rain
encasing me to wait for no carol spring no
cold rejuvenation and I tell you in ash tones
put down your power tools and let time be still
- from Overheard by Conifers (1996), pg 49
Note: These samples of his work were also taken from the Prince Albert Arts Centre where they are framed along with his brief profile.