Brief dialogue

The sea shone briefly behind the trees.

Why are you sad? she asked, putting down her pen.
The sea is so moderate today, he answered,
so suave, even with its gutsful of garbage;
and this room is a well-loved place
preparing for evacuation.

Dinah Hawken

Dinah Hawken lives in Paekakariki and is presently writing a series of short poems influenced by two poets she has admired for many years, Yannis Ritsos and Tomas Tranströmer. Her ninth collection of poetry, Sea-light, was published by Te Herenga Waka University Press in 2021.