Poets Make History

Two Russley Writers attended Poets Make History, a Poetry Workshop with award winning Canterbury poet Gail Ingram. The workshop was held at Ferrymead Historic Park and the writers used the surroundings as inspiration for their poems.

George and Mekhi created some awesome poems inspired by The General Store and the Old Schoolroom. Scroll down to see the photos (most taken by Mekhi) and read their poems.

The General Store

My fingers touch the carvings on the coin

New Zealand one penny, 1943

with a tui

milk chocolate scorched almonds

I wonder how many there are

in a box?

Colman's mustard

five shillings per tin

a basket of wooden pegs

like little sleeping people

wooden drawers slide open

with dill, curry powder, thyme,

nutmeg and all the spices

parcels wrapped in brown paper

tied up with string

in a bicycle basket

I wonder what’s in the parcels?

Upright iron grand

Ask What Thou Wilt

Brown October Ale

Remington typewriter

keys in random spots

like natural disasters

by Mekhi Tauakume

Ferrymead General Store

I hear the buttons on the cash register clunk in despair.

I stare at jars of vibrant, shining, lollies (that will not last).

I absentmindedly scrape my hand across

the master crafted piano, causing a hideous tune.

I wonder at the tins of peacock jam,

its blues and pinks positively shining.

I flick my fingers against the pots, jars and

barrels, the sound resonating throughout the room.

The hand sewn clothes hang like thieves

above the domes, hat pins and lace.

by George Grundy

How to Have a 1950’s Lesson

Start

by singing

God Save the Queen

click click

abacas

smooth feeling of wooden

chairs on your back

bunch of holes and dents

on the desk

hands aching

Slap!

of the teacher’s ruler

chalk scraping across

the blackboard

squiggly words

ink stained fingers

End

By Mekhi Tauakume

1860’s Child

Gaze upon the rustic woodwork

Smell the crackling fire

as it devours clumpy coal

But fast!

equip the quill

The teacher patrols

in the dim glow of the lanterns

belt in hand

so squiggle rapidly

as not to anger

The One in Power

by George Grundy