Poetry Shelf offers a five links for you over the long weekend.

First up Michelle Elvy’s Monday poem: ‘Memory is a feather’

Secondly Manjit Grewal’s poem in Poetry Shelf Speaking Out To For With. Food inequality is ia key thread: ‘Saturday Morning at St Peter’s‘

Thirdly Nina Mingya Piowles Katherine Mansfield poem in The Breathing Room: ‘Katherine Mansfield Park‘

Fourthly, Elizabeth Smither and I in conversation to celebrate her new collection, The Interview Rose (AUP).

Fifthly, and quite wonderfully, Poetry Shelf toasts Te Marama Puoro o Aotearoa | NZ Music Month 2026 with 23 poems. My first ever open invitation to submit a poem. And I loved doing it so much I might very well do another one!

Please note our post shop is closing so I am in the process of getting a new post box at a different venue.

Do send me poetry news.

Your support of poetry this week has been extraordinary. Let’s continue to connect, challenge, console, delight in the uplift and sidetracks and over bridges and fertile clearings of what poetry can do and be.

Thank you.

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