A poem from View from the South.
I met a stranger — eighty-five years old
and some relation.
I’m past it, he said, when questioned on
the clan.
From that hard and bitter childhood he
gave up just one memory.
Wild cattle emerging from the bush
his unlamented father and neighbours
shooting as many as they could.
The beef was home salted, and in the end
the boy abhorred the taste.
No eloquence in his telling, yet power
of incident from a seven-year-old’s
drudgery; the feral beasts, kauri forest
the loud slaughter, and isolated people.
The singularity of it, and a distanced
sadness.
The farm’s back to bush, no family there
now.
Just wide-eyed cattle in the shadows.
Image © Grahame Sydney, 2018
'His poetry is bright, confident and compelling. ' - Otago Daily Times
Read the poems being discussed on Jesse Mulligan’s show on Radio New Zealand on 9 August 2018
Tell us what you love reading so we can personalise the books, recommendations and emails you receive from Penguin.
Read the first three chapters of Ariā and the Monster Island!
For generations, Lynley Dodd’s Hairy Maclary stories have introduced young children to the joy of reading…
There is nothing kids love more than a big old belly-laugh, and when it comes to reading, a book full of laugh-out-loud moments can unlock a joy of reading for life!
Treat Mum to an amazing meal at home this Mother’s Day! We’ve curated the perfect Mother’s Day brunch using some of our most popular recipes.
Join Christopher de Hamel as he travels across New Zealand for a series of author talks, exploring the connections between his South Island childhood, medieval manuscripts and 19th century Aotearoa.
In their own words, younger readers review their favourite Lottie Brooks books and why they love the series!
Not sure where to start with the Dungeon Crawler Carl series? Find out which to read first, and learn a little bit about each book.
Discover some of the best vampire books – from paranormal to gothic and beyond.
Learn about the inspiration behind debut authors’ first novels.
Penguin Random House is delighted to announce that Jacinda Ardern will be doing three book events in New Zealand in April and May.