Manifesto Aotearoa: 101 Political Poems

Description

A poem is a vote. It chooses freedom of imagination, freedom of critical thought, freedom of speech. A collection of political poems in its very essence argues for the power of the democratic voice. Here New Zealand poets from diverse cultures, young and old, new and seasoned, from the Bay of Islands to Bluff, rally for justice on everything from a degraded environment to systemically embedded poverty; from the long, painful legacy of colonialism to explosive issues of sexual consent. Communally these writers show that political poems can be the most vivid and eloquent calls for empathy, for action and revolution, even for a simple calling to account. Front Cover Title Page Half Title Copyright Contents Poetry changes everything–Philip Temple Song coming–Emma Neale About this collection [Part One] Politics The (Andrew) Little things—David Eggleton First reading—Alex Taylor Power riddle—Cilla McQueen To miss the point entirely—Vincent O’Sullivan A song for happy voters—Kevin Ireland The General wants a new flag—Frankie McMillan My people—Philip Temple Serving notice upon the prime minister—Siobhan Harvey The head of department’s prayer on a change of government—Keith Westwater Bite the bright coin its brilliance—Michael Harlow Boom—Richard Reeve Procyclical—Nick Ascroft How they came to privatise the night—Maria McMillan Rugby—Brian Turner Tornado funnel—Vivienne Plumb Enlightenment—Beverly Martens watchtower—Luke Sole A display case in the Museum of Communism—David Howard Voluntary labour on the Shkumbini River, Albania—Chris Else From The Little Ache: A German notebook—Ian Wedde A revolutionary sonnet—Koenraad Kuiper Streets of Kiev—Stephen Oliver First impressions—Paula Green New Year cartoons—C.K. Stead An international poetry festival in Vietnam—Sue Wootton The Greater Wall—Liang Yujing Underwear—James Norcliffe [Part Two] Rights Check Inspector 29—Jeffrey Paparoa Holman Manufacture—Ivy Alvarez Abrasion—Nigel Brown Boxing Day—Peter Olds Papa de los pobres—Serie Barford Percentages—Benita H. Kape Cabin fever—Nell Barnard Winter coast—Nicola Easthope Chores—Judith Stanley Entitlement—Melanie McKerchar My dad loves the All Blacks—Jessie Fenton The speed of God—Rhian Gallagher Pink—Martha Morseth A late take on the Marriage Amendment Act—Heather Avis McPherson Talking about rape—Ruth Hanover From the house where he took her life—Johanna Aitchison Stomach it—Amy Paulussen Arohata—Janis Freegard tricks of a treaty—kani te manukura anglican prattle—Vaughan Rapatahana The quickest way to trap a folktale—Mere Taito Whenua ghosts—Ria Masae Speaking rights—Anahera Gildea For those of you who insist on using the term Te Urewera 17, 12 or 4 to accompany any newspaper headline or media soundbite—Maraea Rakuraku In her own words—Sandi Hall Shakespeare on Lorne—Carin Smeaton Ah Tonto … watcha gonna do ’bout Aotearoa?—Reihana Robinson Aue—Zoe Taptiklis Poems promoting peace—Aroha Yates-Smith Dis-Oriental Bay—Trevor Hayes Occupy Dunedin—Alison Denham Waimakariri and the hikoi—Kathleen Gallagher First thing Lynley—Edmeades Every day my name is out there–Diane Brown [Part Three] Environment Stamps of Dominion—Bridget Auchmuty Recipe for a unitary state—Gail Ingram Water underground—Anthonie Tonnon Ghost stoat Jonathan—Cweorth Super flumina Babylonis—Andrew Paul Wood Water—Helen Watson White Beach—Janet Newman waste management—Janet Charman Story lines—Sue Fitchett Old bones—John Howell Proposal for the Garden City—Doc Drumheller Frankton Supermarket, Queenstown—Richard Reeve Dear ET—Harvey Molloy Ends—Carolyn McCurdie [Part Four] Conflict I cannot write a poem about Gaza—Tusiata Avia On the World News page—Elizabeth Brooke-Carr On acquiring an Old Testament tone—Peter Bland Countdown—Mary Cresswell How to train a paratrooper in 28 weeks—Elizabeth McRae He couldn’t stand the sea—Marty Smith The plains of hesitation—Adrienne Jansen The olives—Louise Wallace We’re all exiles, Kevin says—Mercedes Webb-Pullman Calais haiku—Sarah Paterson Dark water—Victor Billot Displaced—Majella Cullinane The view from the space shuttle—Jane Graham George A people’s guide to disarmament—Catherine Amey Global—Emma Neale Dear Messrs Smith & Wesson—James Norcliffe Gangsta as—Michael Botur Protection order—Nicola Thorstensen Reportage—Michael Steven No time like the 80s—Airini Beautrais The heart jumps up in fear to see the mouths—Bernadette Hall The wall: a love story, of sorts—Michelle Elvy Barbarians have crossed at the border—Pat White Prague 2013: the heart of Europe—Paul Schimmel Beacon fire—Carolyn McCurdie About the contributors A swarm of poets–Murray Edmond