New verse by Canadian New Zealand writer Michael Gould. They called it love I saw the man I thought I loved three times in two days, but after that we didn’t have much to say we kissed, though our eyes didn’t meet and smiled, but a sense of denial was already spelling defeat. Was … Read more
New verse by Kaipara poet Sam Hunt. Reminding me I call my mother thirteen years dead the phone says there’s nobody home. The phone is right. My mother hung it up thirteen years ago, then died… But none of that stuff stops our night time chats, my mother telling … Read more
New verse by Wellington writer James Brown End For five fucking years and fuck knows how many fucks he was fucking my friend and she was fucking my husband. Angry? Do I sound angry? These things happen. That’s what he said. Marriage is a journey and sometimes you reach the end. … Read more
New verse by Punakaikai writer Trevor Hayes. Cabo de Gata, Almeria There are no humans in this poem. They left before it arrived, leaving only pubic hair and beach paraphernalia. This poem has no humans. Instead it has black sand and conglomerate rock (the logical conclusion of volcanism) and … Read more
New verse by Wellington writer Bill Manhire. Thread A new poem. Wow just wow A new poem that no one will forget any time soon. A new poem. I think it’s important. I wrote a new poem. You’ll be amazed at what happened next. It’s all about momentum A new poem #maintainingthebrand A … Read more
New verse by Wellington writer Freya Sadgrove. Georgie Porgie I wanna kiss you and make you cry obviously I find you dangerously unsentimental in fact I worry that you might be harbouring a small violence in your daily life such as such as muttering insults at the elderly or writing scathing reviews of high … Read more
Political verse by Dunedin writer Diane Brown. Every day my name is out there Some say it’s pointless, we have no say but every day they land in my inbox or on Facebook, petitions asking for my name: on state housing, refugees, the TPPA, the writers imprisoned for telling the truth, the stoning of … Read more
We conclude our week-long series on New Zealand poetry with the winning poem of the 2017 national schools poetry award: ‘Dampening’, by Wellington High School Year 12 student Zora Patrick. Dampening Playing dead in the seeming shallows a man floats face down estranged from the crying children and bikini grandmas. He looks … Read more
All week this week the Spinoff Review of Books devotes itself to poetry in the build-up to Phantom Billstickers National Poetry Day on Friday. Today: Kirsten Warner explores why it is that New Zealand poetry has such a friend in Phantom. The first time I saw one of Phantom Billstickers’ poster poems I couldn’t believe … Read more
Every day this week the Spinoff Review of Books is publishing a new poem in the build-up to the Phantom Billstickers national poetry day on Friday. Today: ‘The laureate’s last…’ by CK Stead The laureate’s last… His last was not least nor yet his best but shaped for a shoe his size and like … Read more
All week this week the Spinoff Review of Books devotes itself to poetry in the build-up to Phantom Billstickers National Poetry Day on Friday. Today: Louise Wallace, co-editor of an online journal which publishes poetry and stories by New Zealand writers under 25, reaches out to high school students. I really didn’t like poetry when I … Read more
Every day this week the Spinoff Review of Books is publishing a new poem in the build-up to the Phantom Billstickers national poetry day on Friday. Today: ‘Words of praise’ by Ashleigh Young Words of praise On most drives I like quiet because my mother had a habit of appraising every passing scene, calling … Read more
All week this week the Spinoff Review of Books is devoted to poetry in the build-up to the Phantom Billstickers National Poetry Day on Friday. Yesterday we ran an essay by Helen Hogan, editor of 1970s anthologies of poetry by New Zealand college students; today, an essay by distinguished poet Andrew Johnston, who Hogan published when he … Read more
Every day this week the Spinoff Review of Books is publishing a new poem in the build-up to the Phantom Billstickers national poetry day on Friday. Today: ‘Ascend’ by Bart English Ascend Inspired by Maya Angelou’s “A caged bird” I look Up at the sky And wish that I could fly, To grow … Read more
Every day this week the Spinoff Review of Books is publishing a new poem in the build-up to the Phantom Billstickers national poetry day on Friday. Today: ‘The Dogs of Talimatau’ by Selina Tusitala Marsh The Dogs of Talimatau (for Uncle Siva) My son finds a tail on the lawn a paw on the drive … Read more
All week this week the Spinoff Review of Books devotes itself to poetry in the build-up to Phantom Billstickers National Poetry Day on Friday. Today: an essay by the remarkable Helen Hogan, who brought poetry to a generation of young New Zealanders. In 1971, I edited an anthology of New Zealand poetry for secondary school … Read more
Two new spoons poems by Dunedin writer Liz Breslin. when life gives you spoons when life gives you spoons, measure sugar, stir the juice when life gives you spoons, fix tyres when life gives you spoons, play Kadabra, stare them down when life gives you spoons, grab them off a plane when life … Read more
New verse inasmuch it’s previously unpublished, but really it’s old verse cos it was written ages ago, by Wellington writer Hera Lindsay Bird. Bruce Willis You Are The Ghost It’s not that your wife doesn’t love you. It’s because you died and now you are a ghost and she can’t hear you talking to her. That time … Read more
New verse by Christchurch poet Jeffrey Paparoa Holman. Highway 61 (Old) So by accident I found the road that gave you song, by need alone I drove the miles where Abraham, the way you tell it, heard God say, “Go kill your son.” I slid a CD in the player. I turned the … Read more
Happy birthday today, Sam Hunt! To mark the occasion we present a poem by Selina Tusitala Marsh. Orange Crayon Stick Figure Man (on the occasion of reading “with’”Sam Hunt at the Parnell Rose Gardens, only to discover that “with” was employed euphemistically to describe sharing the same venue, but performing at different times) … Read more
New verse by Dunedin writer Michael Hall. The Survivor Series Jeff, I used to watch the show Jeff, I liked the first two well enough I suppose Jeff, I came back for a later season Jeff, one day instead of the island it will be the planet you will be voted off The … Read more
New verse – he wrote it on Wednesday, actually – by Wellington writer Bill Manhire. Last words It’s nice out there, says the dying man. Yes, says the doctor, not too bad at all. Bill Manhire, 2017 The Spinoff Review of Books is brought to you by Unity Books.
New verse, taken from the recently published collection of New Zealand political poems, by Dunedin writer Peter Olds. Boxing Day Young people shouldn’t have to work in supermarkets on Boxing Day. No young person under the age of 35 should have to work during summer holidays. The owners of supermarkets, lounging on … Read more
New verse by Otago writer Liz Breslin. No one in my poem is on p They’re all on p in Timaru except the student buying camel coat fabric and the fag-waving granny saying what a to do and the Community House security dude arms folded, clipboard primed and plastic. They’re all on p … Read more
New verse by Kaipara poet Sam Hunt. Pissed by 11 Neither pop-inner or house-guest, I prefer an early-opener, patrons pissed by 11: the rest of the day the blur it always is. . . Some people say “Come and stay” or others, “I thought I’d just pop in” . … Read more
New verse by Wellington writer Freya Daly Sadgrove. STIHL power equipment I wanna be a tool for you like I specifically wanna be your STIHL chainsaw I want you dad-aged and swearing by me cos I do such a good job and I last exactly a lifetime— I want you to be careful about … Read more
A memoir by Dame Fiona Kidman on the occasion of a new, posthumous book of poems by her “beautiful friend”, Lauris Edmond. The other day I was talking to a friend at a book launch, and somehow we got into one of those exchanges about who the greatest poets of the twentieth century were. Auden’s name came … Read more
The good and the great of world literature are about to descend as guest speakers at the 2017 Auckland Writers Festival. Will anyone go off the rails? CK Stead (followed by Steve Braunias, in a postscript) recall writers behaving badly onstage. In my experience problems at readings usually involve booze. I remember Jim Baxter being carried to … Read more
Who the hell is John Gallas when he’s at home? And is he ever at home? Bill Manhire talks to the elusive, much-travelled New Zealand poet. John Gallas must be New Zealand’s least visible poet. He left the country in 1970, has mostly lived in the UK since then, but is back in New Zealand for extended periods … Read more