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Reprinted from the Prince Albert Herald, June 19, 1999 A6

Poet John V. Hicks dies of heart attack
By Doug Dahl

John V. Hicks had a way with words his friends could appreciate, but not always understand. “I found some of his poetry too obtuse for me to understand, but there was certain of his poetry that was delightful to read,” said Joe Oliver, Hicks’ friend fro seven decades. Hicks died of a heart attack Wednesday at the age of 92. The Prince Albert resident published nine volumes of poetry. The first was Now is a Far Country, in 1978, after he had been writing for more than 30 years. His poetry also appeared in numerous other journals and collections.

Hicks was born in London, England, but he came to Canada as an infant with his parents. He lived in New Brunswick, Montreal and Alberta before coming to Saskatchewan and settling in Prince Albert.

Trained as an accountant, Hicks began writing poetry while he was in his 30s. Oliver said he would often receive unsigned poems written by Hicks.

“Gradually he began to appreciate that people thought more of them and he would sign his name,” Oliver said in an interview Friday.

As recently as 20 years ago Hicks was described by Canadian poet Earle Birney as “Canada’s most neglected poet.” He ended his life something of a literary lion, was a favourite on Peter Gzowski’s Morningside, and was derided by Mordechai Richler a couple of weeks ago in the National Post for drawing the attention of younger poets away from major writers. Hicks was awarded an honourary doctorate in literature by the University of Saskatchewan in 1987, had a fellowship of the University of Emmanuel College conferred on him in 1979, and was given a lifetime award of excellence by the Saskatchewan Arts Board in 1980.

A member of the Saskatchewan Writers Guild and the League of Canadian Poets, Mr. Hicks also received the Saskatchewan Order of Merit in 1992.

Another longtime friend and colleague, Prince Albert lawyer Clyne Harradence, said Hicks leaves a legacy few will be able to match.

“He had a remarkable intellect,” Harradence said. “He could describe in words, I think, better than any man I’ve ever known.”

Hicks was a devout Anglican who served as an organist at the cathedral in Prince Albert for 60 years.

Charitable as he was, he deplored the bulgarity in church music and once placed an ad in the Prince Albert Daily Herald announcing that “Mr. John V. Hicks will not be available for weddings” so awful did he consider the pseudo-religious songs wanted by many brides. Hicks enjoyed a long marriage to Marjorie (Kisbey) Hicks, a music teacher and composer, who predeceased him in 1986.

read “Legend: the Stones” and “A Book Called Winter”
read an interview
return to John V. Hicks
return to Spotlights