Poetry Spotlight #1

We have some wonderful poets at our creative writing group. They've come and gone over the years and some people lead busy lives which means they can't attend every week. But it's wonderful to get to know and appreciate someone's personal style and so we are going to spotlight some of our poets over the next few months. Today we feature MJD who has a story telling vibe and often speaks to a connection with nature. 

I AM THINKING

I am thinking of you my old friend the wind
You howl and bite
But you're not such a bad fella
You bring the breeze
You sing with ease
You speak to me
Ring ring!
Upon beginning my day

I am thinking
I'm thinking of droplets of rain now evaporating
Should I call up before calling in?
I wonder what's worse
Showing up at any given moment
Or never showing up at all

The oaks, the old oaks
They are proud
They're certainly tall
I wonder what they'd think of all my questioning
Probably nothing at all

TAIERI MOUTH MULTI-SPORT

Over the beach
up the river
through the forest
along the coast

Contestants of the race
are spread like butter
over a vast landscape

Once upon a time
it was eels and lamprey
who flocked to the awa
racing upstream

Today bright coloured bibs
line the scenery
like fairy lights
through mud, bush, sand,
gravel, roadside

Racers oozing like blood vessels
over undulating terrain
like a heartrate graph
peaks and troughs
the sky is the limit

Waves crash
sweat beads
seagulls soar
gears grind

If the landscape could talk
it would applaud the people and say;

Well done on returning to your roots,
showing what it means to be alive
free like manu
varied like the ngahere
with the power of Tangaroa

Blessed is the motu
blessed is the awa
blessed is moana
blessed is the maunga

May a gentle breeze
flow over the land
Haumi e, hui e, tāiki e!

 - MJD