Sailing into truth and the line wobbles
Sailing into news of wars and the nib breaks
Sailing into corrupt politicians and the ink freezes
Sailing into a poem on the mānuka and my heart eases

This week Poetry Shelf was back on line and I ended up stalling in the Poetry Shelf Breathing Room, the place to slowly absorb a poem. Except …. rather than ten minute pauses, I ended up spending hours with Bill Manhire’s stunning book, Lyrical Ballads, a poet whose work has both inspired and nourished me over the decades. The next day I pictured myself in my partner, Michael Hight’s Gow Langsford show, The Seasons, and wrote a poem about one of the paintings. Then on the third day I lingered and again adored again my dear friend Anna Jackson’s incredible collection Terrier, Worrier. I found myself on a sailing boat, which seems weird, but I just loved the image. And started musing on sailing and poetry and life and death.

I highly recommend taking time out to absorb a poem or a painting, or even a song or an album on repeat.

Yesterday I finally got to post the mammoth feature on the utterly soul and mind boosting Poetry Aotearoa Yearbook – All Souls. Nine poets read, and editor Tracey Slaughter and featured poet, Josiah Morgan answered a few questions. I plan on listening again to the poems.

Monday: Monday Poem – Holly Painter’s moving ‘Before Top Surgery’

Tuesday: The Breathing Room: Bill Manhire

Wednesday: The Breathing Room: Michael Hight

Thursday: The Breathing Room: Anna Jackson

Friday: Poetry Aotearoa Yearbook – All Souls feature

Please send review books to my new post box unless I gave you my private address: PO Box 58, Waitākere 0660