The future bites

E tū ki te kei o te waka, kia pakia koe e ngā ngaru o te wā. Stand at the stern of the canoe, and feel the spray of the future biting at your face. — – Dr Apirana Mahuika

Today’s poem

I feel the sun on my body And the light in my heart I cry for those slaughtered without  family or friends close by I weep for those slaughtered with family and friends nearby The wind is gentle today  I sit beneath a tree  The strong upright trunk behind me  Dappled light pulses around my

A poem for Lindsay

Space to breathe

Ah the library.A vast cornucopia.Visions and recordings of what humanity could be.Has been. Will be.Peoples endless encyclopedias.Lists of creature, creations, cures, predator, pre-dated his story )-:-( her story.Bow down to knowledge. My mum’s addiction to non-fiction.My dad longing for another culture’s tongue.My grandmothers monthly;book club attendance. How the library dances in my life.Which music will

WAR

Childhood is fleetingAll too soon,we are dropped in the windsof war. Swathes of blossom, sweep the tarmac. The terror of annihilation, creeping in our bones. Our skeletons bathed in tears. Bright eyes attuned to wonder, shocked unto dullness. The prospect of peace,an unheard of promise… A dream another world away.As we fall weeping – into

Compass

Id lost my compass I was confused Lost Scattered to the wind Then a remembering Why What was crystalized What could turn to gold Spaciousness awaited me You Investigate Immersive river of life Flow Slowly awakening Its okay to have feelings

Deforestation

Tearful the water bites at my eyes tree after tree after tree falling broken pushed collasped against each other shoved slipping forced stacked on the sliding hill shredded eroded Where is the groundswell the earth turning to dust before our eyes in our hands in front of our hearts beneath our feet. CLEARFELLING “don’t worry

fearless friends 20/20

Last night I couldn’t sleep after I sat down next to my Grandmothers bejeweled tears. I wondered if you liked Mary Oliver I read to you Sometimes Verse 4. Instructions for living a life: Pay Attention. Be Astonished. Tell about it. with the warmth of the cat on my lap I thought about contrasts the

[between the lines]

Time will tell we are growing poison around here it comes in 24L packs but wait there’s more fellow students told me you could drink it around here we’re growing poison liberal dousing sauteed and sprinkled our food with it doesnt say on doesn’t fit on the Label to say your strawberries come with hydrogen

love

love takes on the colour of dreams, awakens our hearts, and gives our spirits flight <   RA 2007