Recognition
Recognition I’m so pleased to be back at Te Waikoropupū Springs After a year focused on the Environment Court & you surge, surge, and urge me to rest & preserve my fragile strength, while I whisper; ‘yes’ & ‘yes’ and…
Old Years Day
Old Year’s Day Old Year’s Day; Two Thousand and Twenty-Two Opens on a bed, spread with ancient books & a seed you drop into the field I become Which I water with tears and prayers Of attention, breath, feeling and…
Waikoropupū Christmas
Waikoropupū Christmas Christmas sun burns through hazy cloud above Te Waikoropupū; where I join bees, in their circular freedom Always returning to the point, while forever taking different Routes, as I…
Touchstone
Touchstone Let’s pause, simply be; breathe in, and out; begin The pilgrimage by placing hands on the pounamu touchstone At the centre of the wharenui; which reminds us Of the beauty, power and wisdom of indigenous Aotearoa & especially speaks…
Mates
Mates We meet in the fires of conjunction; me speaking of The River Tribe and the bigotry and violence They suffered on the banks of the Takaka River & you, proclaiming Kōtuku, your bird and mine & our friendship;…
Kiss
Kiss This song is true, Te Waikoropupū My beautiful friend – unexpected – dead My fervent friend, who in a spontaneous moment Kissed me, passionate on the open ground Of the Takaka Market, while his friends watched Cool and…
Closing
Closing Closing comes and closing goes & onward as beginnings flow The waters of our ancient land Are teachers where we make our stand They bubble up as noun and verb & by the listeners soon are heard They rise…
Annihilation
Annihilation Even now your death forms around you Vladimir Vlandimirovich Though it will not come Among the peace of loved ones But in an inevitable eruption Of violence & in your rage and despair You will find no comfort…
14
14 Day three of invasion & I just can’t agree To utter the name Of the obscenity Fourteen children lie broken Bloody and dead & more will soon follow I know in my head But I simply can’t live…
Green Face
Green Face Digger rumbles Chainsaw whines In the pines Above Deep Song As I hide & seek The Green faced one Whose apparition cannot be contrived & who I desperately need Following the temporary repairs To Battery Bridge & the…