A Few New Poems + My Latest e-Book of Short Stories
I have some exciting news. I’ve published a brand-new collection of short stories – it’s available now as an e-Book. Just $0.99. And only from that link up above there. If you’re a regular reader of this newsletter you’ll have read one or two already. But only one or two. (Okay, maybe three). These are all new stories – written over the last six months.
I thought I’d share some brand new poems with you too. Every time I post up a few poems to the newsletter I worry that it’s not what you want at all but then someone writes and asks for more poetry. So I feel like if I just sprinkle some out now and then we’ll be okay. It’s not a weekly thing. Not even a monthly thing…
These poems were all written in the last month.
And are available on my Off The Tracks website. I’m starting to choose some material for a new manuscript. So maybe one or two of these will make that cut…
As Far As Guiding Lights Go
Roger McGough’s poem
about the guy that
aimed low in life
and then missed –
got right in my eyes but
luckily never blinded me.
*
Advice on Writing a Poem about Christopher Luxon
Don’t mention the fact that he used to
run an airline. Once his tray-table is folded away,
he’ll be first to offer up that talking point. Don’t say
that the mask is slipping. It’s all cosplay anyway.
And don’t mention religion because part of the new act
is to say he’s a believer but he’s actually pretty much
Pentecostal – or maybe he’s a fundamentalist eh. But one thing
he is not, is a bottom-feeder. (He fucking hates those!)
This man, this fucking Thumb, is going to win a popular vote
because he’s a high achiever that might clink your beer bottle
at the BBQ, and might bump you up the list for a job interview
if you’re dressing very aspirational, if you’re a good cunt too.
Don’t mention that he is basically a John Key Covers Band –
but he makes his covers more bland than pineapple on pizza;
in fact don’t even write a poem about this stuffed shirt,
he doesn’t read poetry. That’s bottom-feeder stuff written
in state houses on the day the rent is due. Whereas Luxon’s
heading for the skies, because that’s the actual limit mate,
and besides, he knows a good pilot or two. He’ll put in a word
with one of the sky’s waitstaff. Get a good deal for the
good honest hardworking Kiwis, the ones that are sick and
tired of their privilege being brought up in the most low-key way;
the ones that have always had their say and have had an absolute
bloody ‘nuff of all this PC-gone-mad madness. They’re over it!
*
If I Hadn’t Told You Then You Would Never Have Known
each poem
is a confession
that no one
is asking for.
No one asks
a lot.
*
Marginalia
Doing some digital
weeding – good to
drive the devil
from my garden. But
since we share not just
DNA, but hard drives,
not only hard-wiring
but also Google docs –
I find the devil (in the
details) taking root
in the gardens my son
plants without knowing,
all of my pruning to
control new weeds he’s
only started sewing
*
Diminishing Returns
The Gunslinger is quick,
but only has
one trick.
The Trickster is fun,
but doesn’t have
a gun.
The Writer works
with words, but it’s
not really working.
*
So Heavily Earned
In the flat on The Terrace, they only ever spoke
of the madness in mirth. Never as actual fact.
It couldn’t get any worse than it already was –
the place was the pits and as long as the beer was
flowing like wine they had a good time. That was
the logic back then. To look at it now is to worry
of the waste of all that time. To waste any more
time worrying about it is an unfortunate burden –
but one that must be carried. One so heavily earned.
*
Thinking About Daniel Johnston
I wake up thinking about
those lines from Daniel Johnston’s
song, Don’t Let The Sun Go Down
on Your Grievances.
A good way to
start each day.
Thinking about how
he took McCartney’s line about
taking a lucky break breaking it
in two – Daniel broke it in a way
that it felt positively remade.
To listen to any of those early
records is to eavesdrop –
and on far more than just
the music.
Where Daniel Johnston singing
My Life Is Starting Over Again
used to always made me smile.
Now it makes me want to cry.
I think of Devil Town most days,
hear it in my head as I walk around:
“All my friends were vampires
Didn’t know they were vampires
Turns out I was a vampire myself
In the devil town”.
*
Equinox
the time between
dog and wolf
gets shorter as
shadows grow longer
*
Donuts The (W)Hole of My Soul
Though I can’t remember
where I was
when I first heard
J Dilla – not an
exact location anyway –
to hear that ‘Donuts’ album
now, or any time is to go
to a place – the same
state I was in when I
first heard it.
The very best music is transformative.
It truly gets to your psyche – because
it is such a part of it.
Music knows the shortcuts, takes
you home quickest; safest.
*
New World
Friday afternoon, Autumn peeking,
the weekend beckons; commuters
have a little jazz to their stride.
When the whistle blows,
a little part of us brays to
the forever-imaginary full moon;
the larger part of us carries home
weekend possibilities in store-bought
and branded reusable bags.
*
The New Distancing
Today, I sat behind my son at the movies.
They say restrictions are starting to ease –
but a few new ones have just been implemented.
He and his mate, in the row in front. And me,
with no mates sitting behind. Their chaperone,
not even that – their Uber driver; oh but hey,
please buy the tickets and the popcorn too eh!
The movie was fine – and just as well
but my favourite bit was how my best and
most regular movie-buddy of the last half-decade
kept turning to check my reaction
to any joke, or the cheesiest of lines.
His friend got a bit of a look-in too and
this isn’t a competition. But some of the
new restrictions I can already tell won’t last forever.
*
So, there you go. Hopefully that wasn’t too painful.
And as a wee bonus for anyone that’s interested, I’ve dropped the price on all of my other e-books. They’re now all just $0.99 US. So click the link to check out my Amazon profile and pick up another book of stories, some poems, or journalism. And if you’re on Goodreads and you like or don’t like what you read, you can rate and reviews – or just follow me there also.
Shameless self-promotion over.
Well, nearly over…
