JENNY BORNHOLDT

 

Concert

 
New leaves 
on the old rose. 
White blossom 
on the black doris 
plum. 
You go out 
from your name 
to life’s 
haberdashery, sit next 
to a photographer 
with surfer’s ear 
at a concert by the 
consort, in the Carillon. 
There’s the woman 
with the interesting waist 
and so much sound 
inside her body 
that water leaks 
from our eyes; 
and the conductor, we are also 
moved by him – his affirming 
mouth, fingers wriggling 
like bait. 
 
 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jenny Bornholdt is the current Te Mata Estate New Zealand Poet Laureate. She has published seven books of poems, the most recent of which is Summer.