Kirsti Whalen, an Auckland poet, had a terrific conversation with Wallace Chapman on National Radio this morning. I just loved hearing the Tim Finn poem again.
And I loved the tribute to women poets who have preceded us, Janet Frame especially: ‘My whole high school ended up writing poetry in the vein of Janet Frame.’ Yes, we are shaped and in debt so very much to those pioneering women writers who preceded us (speaking as a woman poet here of course).
There was a well deserved nod to English teacher extraordinaire, Ros Ali, too!
Kirsti is currently studying at Manukau Institute with Robert Sullivan, Anne Kennedy and Eleanor Catton. She was shortlisted recently for The Sarah Broom Poetry Award.
Listen to Kirsti Whalen with Wallace Chapman here.
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NZ Poetry Shelf 