Manifesto Aotearoa : 101 New Zealand political poems

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. American poet Mark Leidner tweeted in mid-2016 that 'A vote is a prayer with no poetry'. Here, then, are 101 secular prayers to take to the ballot box in an election year. But we think this book will continue to express the nation's hopes every political cycle: the hope for equality and justice. Two small but potent words. 101 potent poems. Stand up, write back! Front Cover 1 Title Page 2 Half Title 4 Copyright 5 Contents 6 Poetry changes everything–Philip Temple 10 Song coming–Emma Neale 13 About this collection 15 [Part One] Politics 18 The (Andrew) Little things—David Eggleton 20 First reading—Alex Taylor 22 Power riddle—Cilla McQueen 24 To miss the point entirely—Vincent O’Sullivan 25 A song for happy voters—Kevin Ireland 26 The General wants a new flag—Frankie McMillan 27 My people—Philip Temple 28 Serving notice upon the prime minister—Siobhan Harvey 29 The head of department’s prayer on a change of government—Keith Westwater 31 Bite the bright coin its brilliance—Michael Harlow 32 Boom—Richard Reeve 34 Procyclical—Nick Ascroft 35 How they came to privatise the night—Maria McMillan 36 Rugby—Brian Turner 38 Tornado funnel—Vivienne Plumb 39 Enlightenment—Beverly Martens 41 watchtower—Luke Sole 42 A display case in the Museum of Communism—David Howard 43 Voluntary labour on the Shkumbini River, Albania—Chris Else 46 From The Little Ache: A German notebook—Ian Wedde 48 A revolutionary sonnet—Koenraad Kuiper 50 Streets of Kiev—Stephen Oliver 51 First impressions—Paula Green 52 New Year cartoons—C.K. Stead 53 An international poetry festival in Vietnam—Sue Wootton 57 The Greater Wall—Liang Yujing 58 Underwear—James Norcliffe 60 [Part Two] Rights 62 Check Inspector 29—Jeffrey Paparoa Holman 64 Manufacture—Ivy Alvarez 66 Abrasion—Nigel Brown 67 Boxing Day—Peter Olds 69 Papa de los pobres—Serie Barford 70 Percentages—Benita H. Kape 72 Cabin fever—Nell Barnard 74 Winter coast—Nicola Easthope 75 Chores—Judith Stanley 76 Entitlement—Melanie McKerchar 77 My dad loves the All Blacks—Jessie Fenton 78 The speed of God—Rhian Gallagher 80 Pink—Martha Morseth 81 A late take on the Marriage Amendment Act—Heather Avis McPherson 82 Talking about rape—Ruth Hanover 84 From the house where he took her life—Johanna Aitchison 85 Stomach it—Amy Paulussen 86 Arohata—Janis Freegard 88 tricks of a treaty—kani te manukura 90 anglican prattle—Vaughan Rapatahana 95 The quickest way to trap a folktale—Mere Taito 96 Whenua ghosts—Ria Masae 98 Speaking rights—Anahera Gildea 99 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 101 In her own words—Sandi Hall 103 Shakespeare on Lorne—Carin Smeaton 105 Ah Tonto … watcha gonna do ’bout Aotearoa?—Reihana Robinson 106 Aue—Zoe Taptiklis 108 Poems promoting peace—Aroha Yates-Smith 110 Dis-Oriental Bay—Trevor Hayes 113 Occupy Dunedin—Alison Denham 114 Waimakariri and the hikoi—Kathleen Gallagher 115 First thing Lynley—Edmeades 117 Every day my name is out there–Diane Brown 118 [Part Three] Environment 120 Stamps of Dominion—Bridget Auchmuty 122 Recipe for a unitary state—Gail Ingram 124 Water underground—Anthonie Tonnon 125 Ghost stoat Jonathan—Cweorth 127 Super flumina Babylonis—Andrew Paul Wood 128 Water—Helen Watson White 129 Beach—Janet Newman 130 waste management—Janet Charman 132 Story lines—Sue Fitchett 133 Old bones—John Howell 136 Proposal for the Garden City—Doc Drumheller 137 Frankton Supermarket, Queenstown—Richard Reeve 138 Dear ET—Harvey Molloy 139 Ends—Carolyn McCurdie 140 [Part Four] Conflict 144 I cannot write a poem about Gaza—Tusiata Avia 146 On the World News page—Elizabeth Brooke-Carr 148 On acquiring an Old Testament tone—Peter Bland 149 Countdown—Mary Cresswell 150 How to train a paratrooper in 28 weeks—Elizabeth McRae 151 He couldn’t stand the sea—Marty Smith 152 The plains of hesitation—Adrienne Jansen 153 The olives—Louise Wallace 154 We’re all exiles, Kevin says—Mercedes Webb-Pullman 156 Calais haiku—Sarah Paterson 157 Dark water—Victor Billot 159 Displaced—Majella Cullinane 160 The view from the space shuttle—Jane Graham George 161 A people’s guide to disarmament—Catherine Amey 162 Global—Emma Neale 164 Dear Messrs Smith & Wesson—James Norcliffe 165 Gangsta as—Michael Botur 166 Protection order—Nicola Thorstensen 167 Reportage—Michael Steven 168 No time like the 80s—Airini Beautrais 170 The heart jumps up in fear to see the mouths—Bernadette Hall 172 The wall: a love story, of sorts—Michelle Elvy 173 Barbarians have crossed at the border—Pat White 174 Prague 2013: the heart of Europe—Paul Schimmel 176 Beacon fire—Carolyn McCurdie 177 About the contributors 179 A swarm of poets–Murray Edmond 192 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. American Poet Mark Leidner Tweeted In Mid-2016 That 'a Vote Is A Prayer With No Poetry'. Here, Then, Are 101 Secular Prayers To Take To The Ballot Box In An Election Year. But We Think This Book Will Continue To Express The Nation's Hopes Every Political Cycle: The Hope For Equality And Justice...--publisher's Description. Politics -- Rights -- Environment -- Conflict. 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 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 / Jans 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 / Arahera Gildea -- For Those Of You Who Insist On Using The Terma Te Urewera 17, 12 Or 4 To Accompany Any Newspaper Heading Or Media Soundbite / Maraea Rakuruku -- 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 Edited By Philip Temple & Emma Neale. Includes Bibliographical References.