Koi Reflections

We Knew

We knew
when the whistle blew
and dungareed men
from the lamb chain
downed tools
and rushed to the six o'oclock swill

We knew
the pub by the old bridge
on the bench outside its sawdust floors
old moko'ed women enjoying a pipe
brow lined chuckles
time slipping by

We knew
the shunting of trains
puffing steam on the branch line
steel carcassed with glowing coals
near the blood shoot
where boys fished with jags

We knew
when the Waitara whistle blew

The Frog's Lament

The Frog's Lament

To be a frog in Singapore

is not for the faint hearted

Hashima is our common fate

from oviducts soon parted

and once they get a taste for it

...well the craze has only started.

Roger Smith, June 2013

Sandflies

Waitara River Mouth Drawing
Roger Smith, 2013

the sandflies on Waitara beach
have grown bigger since I was a boy
tip-toeing across the scorching sands

carcasses of trees still litter
bleached sentinels in perfect alignment
at the high tide mark

to the north the wave stained blocs
the dragon teethed river entrance
more angular than I remember

rusting boilers of ships that hit the bar remain
explored by eager children
at low spring tides

The Kerikeri Rooster

The Kerikeri rooster
prematurely announced the dawn at 4am
prompting foul thoughts
of paltry Xmas dinners