Last week, World Suicide Prevention Day was marked by readings from Otago poets on the theme of mental health and loss; themes which Lynda Scott Araya, Diane Brown, Liz Breslin, Majella Cullinane, Clare Lacey and Mikaela Nyman have all written powerfully about. They were brought together by Linda Collins, local author, poet and editor (Loss Adjustment, Sign Language for the Death of Reason) with the support of Michelle Elvy of NZSA, the aim being to share, as well as raise awareness and funds for Life Matters – Suicide Prevention Trust. 

‘As soon as I approached poets for the reading, everyone was incredibly enthusiastic about the idea. The event was deeply moving, with poetry the star, threading truths, feelings and connections. It could have been a sad occasion, with the death of my daughter integral to my creativity, but the kindness of poets carried me through – and upwards, softly and hopefully.’ Linda Collins

The poetry shared had a deep impact on all who were there, and it’s hoped this special reading will now become an annual event. 

Life Matters can be reached here. 

Praxia   
after Sylvia Plath, Ariel

Dyspraxia, from the Greek:
Dys. Bad, difficult.
Praxia. Perform.

My clumsy child,
we trip up through life together
and even attempt
your maths schoolwork.

But sequencing is beyond us.
Marvel at our frozen brains.
Marvel at our fingers,
the lack of fine motor skills.
Our dead hands drop pens
on the floor. Again. Again!
My child cries: Enough!
No more reining in.
She runs, I run from classroom,
up the hill. Galumphing,

Whoops-a-daisy crash
is us tumbling
over and over.
Our knees are bloodied,
we struggle to get up.
Our neurons
sputter, stuck in recesses
of brain wiring.

Able at least to gasp,
laugh, we surrender
to the doing of nothing,
to languor on soft grass.
Dissing the dys,
just us; 
stasis.

Linda Collins

recaptcha / all I ask is 

prove that you’re not a robot
check all the boxes with crosswalks
trafc lights, fre hydrants, buses, trains

prove that you’re not a robot 
optimise, improve, do more
do right, write lists

prove that you’re not a robot 
cry quiet with the rain, close 
your eyes, dream electric

prove that you’re not a robot
so you can progress to the next
and the next screen and 

check all the boxes with sidewalks
so the robots can learn how to drive
check the hydrants, stop at the lights

prove that you have skin in the game
pay with plastic, use adaptogens
you haven’t touched another human in weeks

if a leaf falls can you
if a leaf falls can you
if a leaf falls can you

prove that you’re not a robot
teach the robots you know what’s what
check all the boxes with red lights, greens

you cut, you bleed, you sew, you click
prove that you’re not a robot
submit

Liz Breslin
from In Bed with the Feminists (Dead Bird Books, 2021)

Bertie, at the Ōtepoti Hope Centre, Life Matters