like an octopus

the heart muscles its way out
makes it way along the seafloor

towards the trawler
towards the island

the heart has a head
and sends out pain signals

the heart is governed by legislation
that only goes so far

the heart is an octopus
too clever for its own good

the heart has eight limbs
puzzling, pining

when i fight
i fail

my brain is big
but my teeth are small

i die like an octopus
so i may as well live like one

hiding from sharks
mounding up home

A. M. Keeble

A descendant of UK, Austrian and German immigrants, Michaela grew up on Wurundjeri land, and is now lucky to live in Aotearoa. She has just published Paku Manu Ariki Whakatakapōkai with her son and co-author Kerehi Grace (Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Porou), and with illustrator Tokerau Brown. Her full-length poetry collection surrender was published in 2022. The poem “like an octopus” comes from her art+poetry collaboration “The heart is an octopus” with painter Emma Hercus, on at Railway Street Studios in Auckland from Tues 10th – Sat 28th October.

Paku Manu Ariki Whakatakapōkai is reviewed on Poetry Box