Poetry

Film of the launch of 'The Painted Sailor' collection of poetry by the Artist at the Penthouse, New Zealand House, London

Film of the Launch of 'Night Bus' a collection of poetry by the Artist at the FrenchHouse, Soho, London

Night Bus

As the night bus charges
through the spattered streets
I watch the look of despair
as the e and the alcohol
leaves the youth facing me-
his face wan under rat-tails

His dead mother comes to me,
and says, 'He is my darling boy-
touch his trembling eyelids
and sad mouth for me.'
But the bus just hurtles on
through the spattered streets

His mother's tears cry,cry,
over the the windows wet,
gutters greedy take the rush,
we are all as one
as the night bus takes her son,
me, and the rat-tails
through the spattered streets.

North London 2005

Pukekura Park

Green light filters through the fern
English roses glow softly around us
you ask if we should marry
as the olive creek
moves quietly
over its brown bed

But no,
the gray Thames
the silver Tamar
the pink stinking rivers of Cadiz
have also moved slowly, ceaselessly
under their still bridges
and now
it is too late.

1974, New Plymouth, N.Z.

A Sense of Place

The big-bellied Comet aeroplane
rose heavily over the the green bush
   the woman sitting close to me asked
   Is the blue beneath us
   lakes and rivers?

     I answered
   No, they are clouds below us.
   Disbelieving, she looked away
so we sat in different spaces

She between earth and clouds
I between clouds and sky

And the aerolplane glistened red
In the late sub-tropical sun
As our shadow moved slowly over
Blue, green, brown, yellow
Blue, green, blue.

  King Country, New Zealand 1974