Sunday, April 22, 2012

Tuesday Poem - Sound Check by Hinemoana Baker


Sound Check

you sound just like that woman, what's her name
she sings that one about the train
check one two one two check check
ka tangi te tītī tieke one two

she sings that one about the train
can I get another tui over here
ka tangi te tītī tieke one two
my secret love's no secret any more

can I get another tui over here
at last my heart's an open door
my secret love's no secret any more
that sounds choice love what a voice

at last my heart's an open door
you got a voice on you alright
that sounds choice love what a voice
you know the crowd's gunna soak up the highs

you got a voice on you alright
had a bit of a band myself back in the day
you know the crowd's gunna soak up the highs
i'd up the tops if I was you ay

had a bit of a band myself back in the day
check one two one two check check
i'd up the tops if I was you ay
you sound just like that woman, what's her name


I found this choice pantoum by NZ writer Hinemoana Baker in an anthology of Contemporary Polynesian Poems In English - Mauri Ola – edited by Albert Wendt, Reina Whaitiri and Robert Sullivan. It's published by Auckland University Press. Hinemoana lives in Kāpiti but she has a strong Australian connection because in 2009 she was the Arts Queensland Poet in Residence.


http://www.hinemoana.co.nz/

4 comments:

  1. Great poem. Would be fantastic read out loud.

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  2. Sarah Jane, it *is* fantastic read--& in part sung--aloud by Hinemoana Baker. :)

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  3. I can just imagine this live. Great constant rhythm in this piece -- glad I stopped in!

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  4. You can hear the music in the poem. I love that in a poem.

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