Live Poets celebrate 16th anniversary
Alan Cockburn reading his poems. Photo: Ina Holst
Last Thursday, the Golden Bay Live Poets celebrated their 16th birthday at the Mussel Inn with good crowd and—as always—an open mike.
Poet and organiser Joe Bell said that the Live Poets nights have become “a bit of an institution”, and with the days getting shorter and life a bit quieter a night of poetry and song, either as a listener or a performer, seemed to be the perfect way to ease into autumn—just as the godwits assemble to leave for the winter.
Local and travelling poets, young and old, poets from New Zealand, North America, and the UK recited a wide array of poems covering everything, just as in real life, from love and loss to fear. They recited hilarious, staccatoed hip-hop-style slam poetry or sang “appropriate or inappropriate ditties”. While there are the brooding thinkers whose lives are full of anguish or whimsical wonder, there is also the performer who grabs the mike, bounces up and down on his toes and tells the tale of the Bad-ass Bicycle Bandit and the Supersonic Humming-bird. Just for fun.
Poet Owen Bullock from Waiheke said that writing poetry was about observing not only what you see, but what you felt at another level of perception, while covering the breadth of the human experience.
The poets only take a break in January, during the busiest time of the year, said Mussel Inn proprietor Jane Dixon. Otherwise they never miss a beat. So be there, once a month on a Thursday, 8pm. Check the Mussel Inn for dates.
Ina Holst
Migration miracle
of non-stop flight
the Bar-tail Godwit
hove into sight
South from Alaska
for 12,000 kays
favourable tail wind
in only eight days.
Shrinking their innards
after taking their fill
instinct all powerful
along with their will
driven by nature
shooting the stream
arriving depleted
from journey extreme.
No food, water or rest
on the way down
wobbly on ‘empty’
when land is re-found
vulnerable to harassment
in their weakened state
we need to respect them
‘tho little, they’re great.
A summer of feeding
for a new cycle start
tiny snails provide fuel
for fat and strong heart
gleaned from blades
of glistening eel grass
snails too small to notice
when we walk past.
We honour you Kuaka
with your black feet
nondescript plumage
and long curving beak
we welcome your probing
of sand on your beach
for your seasonal visits
bring lessons to teach.
Joe Bell 2010
