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There is a line from one of his poems
'Ache blossomed upon her cheek - the girl from Porirua East'
Anyone know what the name of the poem is?
Familiar ? I grew up in the same part of the world, he used to come to our school, with his dog Minstrel, and read his poems. Was awesome.
You might try the Ask a Librarian service at the National Library of New Zealand, can almost guarantee they will have a boffin who knows all the poems. Or the English Dept at Victoria Uni.
Not so OT after all...
this poem?
Porirua Friday Night
Acne blossoms scarlet on their cheeks,
These kids up Prirua East…
Pinned across this young girl’s breast
A name tag on a supermarket badge;
A city-sky blue smock.
Her face unclenches like a fist.
Fourteen when I met her first
A year ago, she’s now left school,
Going with the boy
She hopes will marry her next year.
I asked her if she found it hard
Working in the store these Friday nights
When friends are on the town.
She never heard:
But went on, rather, talking of
The house her man had put
A first deposit on
And what it’s like to be in love.
Yes yes yes....
Thanks very much you two... made my month.
Sam Hunt is fantastic, I had forgotten about him. Might be time to recommend a poetry book for my book club. They have almost forgiven me for the Science Fiction book.
Thanks !
I was in forth form when he visited our school. The performance was in the hall and was only for 5 form students. I asked but the teachers said no. So I wagged my class and hung outside the hall with my ear to the door. Listen to a bit until the head master came along and dragged me back to class. Education - expanding the minds of youth.
Where did you go to school Earl ? I was at Tawa College 3rd - 5th form then Wellington Girls 6th and 7th.
Colenso Coed High School in Napier 3-7th form late 80's early 90's.
I had never heard of him before but my form teacher told me he was coming and said I might like his stuff. Maths teacher (who's class I wagged) didn't want to hear about it - (even though I was in the top 75% back then hahaha!). Got a couple of detentions for my sin but that line I (wrongly)quoted above stuck with me a bit.
Something reminded me of if it yesterday.....
Just ordered a collection of his stuff on Amazon - can't wait!
hels - bought up in Wellington - luck thing. Used to have a gf from Well and spent a lot of time there - best city in NZ I recon - then and now.
ha ha, Hels of Tawa*
Sorry, couldn't resist sure you've heard it all before etc etc... 😉
He came and saw us twice at Takapuna Grammar mid/late eighties. Ace!
Growing up in Tawa was not so cool, not much to do and about 20 churches. We kind of made our own fun. Life improved hugely when my parents moved to Wadestown when I was 16.
And don't slag off Lyn of Tawa, she's my cousin.