& verily the bishop saw an absence
(response to Bishop Vercoe’s statement of ‘looking forward to a world without gays’)

I take my science
leaf through
memory
will-o’-the-wisp moments
can be caught
embedded
deep into the brain
a place where even
torture
cannot hook
yank you out
leave absence

I take your name
repeat over & over
each syllable
someone has scored
a name into the wooden seat
beside my bus stop
this is how my brain will look
soft folds clasp
a bright tattoo

I take the colour of your eyes
condition myself to be alert
spot an exact match
in variegated green leaves
a grey sea wash
the brown earth I turn over
to make home for a sapling
this Arbor day

I take your laugh
in which ear will I hide this joy
harmonies to play amoroso
on morning ferries
shield against some of the din
scudding through our city

& to back all this up
when we stand in supermarket aisles
rice  flour  bread in our basket
say good-bye at airports
between one heart beat & the next
I will reach for you
with both hands
print a public kiss
on your lips

a reading
so transpicuous
luminous
if they turn us into salt
we will shine

& shine

Sue Fitchett
from Magazine, ed. Raewyn Alexander 2004

There are times when certain poems I‘ve written speak to me afresh.   While they may not be an all-time favourite they reverberate again in consciousness, align with my mood or the environment I find myself in personally or within the wider world.  I’ve become increasingly aware of the growing book bans happening in supposedly liberal western democracies, for example, thousands more this year in the US.   Many are LGBTQR+ titles or content.  Twenty something years ago a leading NZ Bishop said publicly he was ‘looking forward to a world without gays’.  I wrote a poetic response.  It’s with fierce sadness I stumbled again on this poem and now it’s become a bit of an ear-worm as I scan global new items, hear local political party ‘dog whistles’.
Sue

Sue Fitchett is a conservationist, volunteer fire fighter & Waiheke Islander.  Authored Palaver lava queen (AUP: 2004), On the Wing (Steele Roberts: 2014) and Between (The Cuba Press 2025). Co-author or editor of several poetry books & anthologies.  Work has appeared in various publications in Aotearoa/New Zealand & overseas & exhibited in art shows. Louis Johnson Bursar 2001-2002.