Just back from the PMs Literary Awards held at Premier House. Congratulations to C.K. Stead, Brian Turner and Ranginui Walker for winning this year. The awards were created by former PM Helen Clark and Creative NZ to acknowledge established writers who have made a sustained contribution to our literary scene. The prize money is, for once in literary awards, very good, and the winners are always incredibly grateful.
I have great admiration for all the writers, but I have a particular affection for Brian Turner. Apart from a mutual love of cricket and Central Otago landscape I have always admired Brian’s style of writing that evokes the land and the natural world with an economy of language and a huge depth of feeling.
So, here is one of his poems I like a lot. This one is for Clare.
Otago Peninsula
There, beneath a portcullis of rain
lie the bones of time-rent men and women.
They lie awash in the slush
that saddened and sometimes defeated them.
Scabby hedges cling to the slopes
of hills yoked by sky.
Here the whole range of earth’s colours
sprawl on paddock, stone wall and crumpled sea.
Nothing is left untouched by sparse sunlight,
slanting rain, fists of wind punching
the ribs of the land. Here, under tough grasses
and the crust of sheep and cattle tracks
crumble the fondest dreams and prophecies.
No one came who stayed to conquer, no one came
who was not beaten down
or turned away for another time.
Thank you Grant. And thank you Brian. This land (Otakou Peninsula) gets under your skin and into the bones.
I walked on Allans Beach in calm weather alongside sea lions.
I walked up Harbour Cone (Hereweka)and looked across and along the length of our harbour
I watched nine paradise ducklings be buffeted by the force of a southerly. They’re tough. They’ll survive. But I’ll check tomorrow.
I have sheep across the road. And staunch men and women, many from the land, all around me. Life goes on.
Beautiful