!!
The Wahine and Barrett's Reef
Beloved your young eyes pull back
The antithesis of heaven's bow
Draws in love's pupils
As life loses its mastery
Her karanga in flight
We dive
Raging caves patu stone disembowel
Those veins where waters meet
The night strums
Rising to spheres where nothing resides
The silent rigors of sobs rolling
White fists on beaches
Annointed by her death hand
Cupped for rain brushes the reef
Misting the wind's screen
Mere shimmer of her hand.
SONNET: THE LIONS TOUR
Send the best of the Lion's footie stock
Or will and red sheep off a British moor;
Send us the Plantagenet of Woodstock
That passions will savour ever more.
In common grass-roots fashion we hold hands
To entwine scrum green and braid red and black;
Of our new youth will show you Brits what stands
For our affection and thats for you to crack.
So should you English footie pilgrims bleat.
No Jonah on the wing then watch our wing,
The thrust and bull force of Palmerston's fleet.
Bring the Maui vans of British lion's wing,
Give us the reserves as best plays best
And string up ten guitars with will on line.
We hear your roar and see your British crest,
Brit-fans aboard and none so clandestine.
Don't send us the puff of George's green lead
Send Paddy's Will and lion share, life's mead.
Tania Butcher