Monday, August 20, 2007

Monday. Back at work. However, thought I would inflict this on you...it has already been published by the NZ Listener a few years ago. My 15 seconds of fame.



Waitangi, Chatham Islands 1969
- Amanda Stephens ©

Across the fractured road
Mr Daymond has hung
A sheep in the arthritic
Limbs of his pine tree
Overhead gulls circle
Screaming their warnings
To expectant sparrows
Waiting like popping corn.
It’s a February day but
Summer has slept in
A novice wind plays with our
Hair and scuttles down the road,
Past the green Police Station house
And out over the sober bay
Where waves casually claim the shore
To the left, fishing boats lined up
Like school children, jostle against
The despondent splintered wood
Of the wharf……
The Island has chosen
Early retirement today.

I must dig about and see if I can find some old photos from those days. They will be in original black and white and quite possibly taken on my first camera..an ol' Box Brownie which I still have stored in my wardrobe.

I like this blog business, took a while to get into it but its really like being on a big bus ride, sometimes over-hearing the conversation of others and contributing when deemed appropriate. Of course, ever mindful that one might get a biff in the ear or told to mind their own business, or even a cyber-hug of some form or other. Happy Monday, fellow travellers. Its a great day to be up and about.

7 comments:

Steve said...

The poem definitely gets a cyber-hug! I love the "hung / A sheep in the arthritic / Limbs of his pine tree" line - really startling and visceral. It will make my journey to work this morning seem more mundane than ususal!

The Sagittarian said...

Thanks Steve. I like your pick up on visceral...I work in the meat processing industry and would have been "gutted" if no-one picked up on that!!

Old Cheeser said...

Glad you're enjoying blogging Amanda. And funny you live in Canterbury in NZ - some of my relatives come from Canterbury in Kent!

Interesting poem. Making me think that maybe I should post a few of my own.

The Sagittarian said...

I'm always keen to read others poetry so fire ahead! And by the way, its really nice of you both to involve yourselves in my blog. I really appreciate it.

Steve said...

It's a pleasure, Amanda - I wouldn't keep coming back if I didn't like what I was reading! :-)

Old Cheeser said...

Well I actually opened a Live Journal account ages ago, with the express purpose of posting some of my stories, poems etc...haven't got round to it yet! But will do at some point I hope! I think when you put your own creative work online you're very conscious of the fact that it's in the public domain and so want to get it just right! And I am TOO much of a perfectionist...

Old Cheeser said...

And yes you're welcome Amanda - always nice to make the acquaintance of new people! And thanks equally for you comments on my own blog, appreciated...

The OC xx