Piopiotahi Wind
waterfalls ascend into sky
white veils flow straight up
in this wind so strong
trees fall and water rises
another true miracle
I only believed on sight
Tag: Southland
mindful silence
mindful silence
in the deep dark of the glowworm cavern
there’s no chatter, no photos
(our guide warned)
and we are immersed/transfixed
by black water rushing below us
while above constellations of electric blue blips
are scattered at random like so many stars
all we can do is suck in our breath
and look
later a woman asks
Why did we need to be quiet?
So we could all enjoy it
our guide says without apology
without hearing where
you’re going to dinner
Found in Enn Zed
Found in Enn Zed
other countries you don’t know where the hell you are
this country’s small enough you don’t get lost
even in Christchurch you can climb a hill
and see the sea and
(Allan nods)
know, oh, yeah, that’s where I am!
aren’t we all looking for a place we won’t get lost?
where Tāne Mahuta will watch over us?
where mana doesn’t equal money
and the power and design
of an unfurling fern frond
is revered by everyone?
actually, no,
I suppose most Americans
aren’t missing these things
which makes them all the more
bittersweet to find
at the antipode to my existence
where I’ll never be home
Weka with a Walking Stick
Owen took this photo.
Weka with a Walking Stick
little tokoeka comes hobbling along the strand
planting his walking stick
in every likely bit of wrack
big clown feet marking up the beach
with dinosaur tread
tiny round bum barely balancing him out
and we’re all transfixed
our prayers answered
but this biggish bird just keeps going about
his jolly way
slowly becoming mammal
not realizing a whole people
have named themselves after him
SPF infinity
SPF infinity
the middle-aged cashier gives
the inevitable antipodal greeting:
How ya goin’?
all business in her short sensible haircut
and utilitarian bifocals
she scans things quickly
leaves them on the belt
for us to pack ourselves
then suddenly stops
seizes a bottle
looks at it quizzically
What’s this? she says
and I almost answer
it’s sunscreen
before I catch the twinkle
in her eye
We’re feeling optimistic
I say weakly
while rain lashes the store windows
but she just smiles
and shrugs
