sketches of Kawaeranga
don’t trust bird stories
they have short lives
are pleased to please themselves
tell of quick movement
quick and alive and
don’t trust the pain of trees
they bear up the sky
look
the sky is blue
…
the big kauri on the ridge
supports half the sky
calls endlessly for help
distresses the children
for brothers and sisters’
assistance
to the wind
distresses its
over a thousand
children
…
my ankle gave way on the tramline
coming down the cutting
no tram
no trestle
the dams remains
no kauri
numbers to support the efforts
taken to remove them
the exorbitant efforts
…
4 . 1 . 2022