Hone Tuwhare

Hone Tuwhare 

Back then 

I remember you

sitting  there alone

leaning over a walking stick

outside the cafe on a

sweltering summer's 

afternoon in Hamilton Zoo.

If I had introduced myself 

I bet we'd have bantered 

about everything except poetry.

I wanted to say something honourable and profound to you,

but I have no doubt 

it would have come out all wrong

ridiculous and adoring.

Instead  I watched you from a far

It was a moment in time 

'under no ordinary sun.'

Avie.

A Sullen Sobriety

A Sullen Sobriety 

Can I share with you 

a drink of warm  beer 

in a dark corner full 

of fallen leaves 

and dry twigs.

Peer into the bottle with me

look into the confined glass dungeon

when we used to try and 

quench our thirst 

of despair and burden.

Now I will pour out 

the broken gardens 

with the left over

black milk 

onto the fire to

douse the fury.

Avie

Paranoia

Paranoia 

Behind the door

I hear footsteps in the night rain

eager to discover clues 

to validate catastrophic fears.

The movie is about to begin

It's a suspense thriller.

A dark shadow

approaches from

the other side

a lover

axe murderer 

a friend 

a psychopath 

adulterer 

a robber.

Not wanting to 

break the silence to 

risk disclosing my identity

I remain silent in the dangerous tension. 

The intrigue is killing me 

without  a trace of evidence

the footsteps fade 

down the steps

 into the distant darkness.

In the morning the place will be 

swarming with cops 

knocking on doors

asking for witnesses.

Eyes  wide open

In a night-long journey 

falling asleep 

could prove fatal

steering 

head-on into an oncoming dream

I choose to remain conscious with 

reality and the suspicious encounter 

full of a strange 

enigma.

Avie.

Take A Pew

If you ask the old man 

he will kindly give you 

plenty of his time 

deliver a sermon or two on the hill

about the botanical plant names

in both Latin and Maori.

He sits on the church pew 

 preaches  to the young 

how bees make honey 

amongst the 

irreplaceable 

stain glass 

colours of flowers.

The garden is his Cathedral 

the children his flock

the blackbird sings

to his psalms.

Avie..

Two Worlds Collide

Two Worlds Collide 

The human smells

of the unwashed 

unaware  that he

Is chanting 

And dancing

having a conversation with the hokey sticks.

People are uncomfortably staring

He is surrounded by 

children who find his 

unpredictable  clowning 

amusing.

He is content lost in his own mind

while the poet questions 

And writes in the 

the mad world.

Avie.

Nightmare

Nightmare

In the quiet inlet cove 

of the inner ear

I've  heard 

whispers of murderous 

 invention 

only accessible 

in dreams.

Water taxis flow in the narrow vascular arteries 

of the sub-conscious mind.

Once you have fallen asleep

they will take you across

drop you off 

on the other side

of the corruptible night

into the  deep fathoms 

of flooded cabins.

The temperature will rise

burn inside the eye sockets

of a  charcoal skull.

Behind the curtains of dark insecurities 

where fear resides in the chills of spines.

The night fright is about to take off

the wings are in control 

there is no pilot 

the movie is on auto-pilot

the isolation from reality

is  in the hands of the  radio control tower.

Somewhere in the story

 I'm  aware

of the sabotage

that is happening 

on the demons radar.

A midnight collision with the

silent scream

Is a restless jolt

of the awakening.

Avie.

Picton

Picton

In front

of the white steps

a cenotaph 

to honour 

the glorious dead.

The soldiers uniform 

dazzling white 

angelic in statue

a brave performance 

at the entrance way 

to peace perfect peace.

A German accent

minutes off the ferry

lights a cigarette 

the smoke lingers 

amongst the colourful poppies.

White sails silently approach 

we throw stones into the 

 clear jade waters 

skimming across

the deep green reflections 

of the sounds.

I am from the old country

remembering war films 

with my Father

they always ended well.

Avie..