New Zealand’s poetry is as diverse as its geography, echoing the voices of both the indigenous Māori and the settlers.
Poets like Hone Tuwhare and Katherine Mansfield portray the raw beauty of the land, the struggle of its people, and the mingling of cultures. Their works often imbibe elements of the Kiwi spirit – exploratory, resilient, and intimate with nature.
These poems, whether steeped in tradition or breaking new ground, paint a rich picture of New Zealand’s literary landscape.
‘Monologue’ by Hone Tuwhare is a contemporary poem about the difficulties workers face when looking for a job and how temporary those jobs can be.
I like working near a door. I like to have my work-bench
close by, with a locker handy.
‘Distant Fields/ANZAC Parade’ by Rhian Gallagher is a poem about witnessing one parade commemorating the service of the deceased soldiers.
‘Elegy For My Father’s Father’ was written by James K. Baxter. The poem has only a single stanza with 38 lines, which develop a set of responses to death.
‘Farmhand’ by James K. Baxter describes the lack of confidence a farmhand has regarding his appearance and relationship prospects.
‘For Heidi With Blue Hair’ is a six-stanza poem that uses action and dialogue to paint a literary picture where little to no physical setting is provided.
When you dyed your hair blue
(or, at least ultramarine
for the clipped sides, with a crest
of jet-black spikes on top)
you were sent home from school
‘Friend’ by Hone Tuwhare discusses a friendship that has fallen into ruin through the passage of years.
‘Rhyme of the Dead Self’ by A.R.D. Fairburn is a captivating poem in which the poet speaks about youth and coming of age through images of violence and religion.
‘The Meeting’ by Katherine Mansfield is a short and image-rich poem that depicts a speaker’s reaction to a permanent separation from her lover.
‘Waterfall’ is a famous poem of the New Zealand poet Lauris Dorothy Edmond. This poem taps on the themes of love, death, time, and youth.
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