Kuini Takes a Break

Gold cherry

By Philip Sidney

Sat, 21 Jan 2017
  • 3054 reads
10 comments
 

Take a good long jack mate -

I made the effort

least you can do is look past my moko.

Yeah it marks me out

that’s the point.

 

They called me ariki -

you understand?

Nah.

 

I lay on a mat under a sweet-smelling tree and

watched clouds mix future with past

the tohunga chiselled my chin

my blood mingled with ash

a tui sang.

 

Seen your kind before

had my picture took

to put in a book for the pakeha queen -

my hair hung down

I wore a kākahu.

 

I got my own style now -

à la mode

I sew a fine seam

smoke a pipe on the pavement

 

what you going to do about it?

Shoot me? 

 

 

The photo comes from the online National Library of New Zealand :

You can copy this item for personal use, share it, and post it on a blog or website. It cannot be used commercially without permission, please ask us for advice. If reproducing this item, please maintain the integrity of the image (i.e. don't crop, recolour or overprint it), and ensure the following credit accompanies it:Elderly Maori Woman, Te Awamutu. Koppel, Irene, 1914-2004 :Photographic prints, albums and negatives taken by Irene Koppel. Ref: PAColl-6497-16-1-1. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22637800

 

 

 
Certificate 12
Poem

Comments

Submitted by celticman on

Philip Sidney tohunga of words and images. 'Shoot me' yeh, in the past that was an option widely taken up, but I guess times has changed. Jail me, would be more appropriate. 

 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thanks celticman. smiley

Submitted by airyfairy on

Confrontation, defiance, wisdom and wistfulness are all in this deceptively simple poem.  That's why it's our Facebook and Twitter Pick of the Day.  Please share/retweet if you've enjoyed it. 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thank you so much Airyfairy!smiley

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

brilliant pick. I love the defiance in this

 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thanks insert. :)

Submitted by hudsonmoon on

Enjoyed the lovely sass here, PS. 'My kinda broad.' as the old-timers say. 

Rich

 

Submitted by jeand on

Hi Helen

I love the Maori words, and New Zealand feel to this poem.

Jean

Jean Day

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thanks Jean - so pleased it had that New Zealand touch for someone who knows it . :)

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Is the shoot also mean take a picture, as if that is the only response we can have? Your poem is much better, understanding, going inside instead of just clicking the outside