MIRIAMA GEMMELL
mire of hara
the kitchen is a cesspit of tikanga breaches / siri says the
problem is tijuana / potty on the kitchen floor / only room
without carpet / marinades til we notice / but when a
weetbix bite lands on the floor / all but the white man will
eat it
the lounge is a bog of disgrace / if we call the coffee
table a footstool / we’re in the clear / except for the food
on the footstool / kai belongs on a coffee table / we’d use
the tēpu but it’s covered in laundry / kindly folded by one
who doesn’t know better / whereas i know i flounder
the bathroom is a fen of paru / sieve and funnel for bath
toys / the kitchen creeps outwards / tamariki fill up drink
bottles at this lower sink / empty mugs clutter the vanity /
if we put toothbrushes in the mugs / we could call them
ipu and paint the town red
the whare is a mire of hara / a party for hair ties and nail
scissors / if the house were larger / if only we had a
garage / perhaps there would be wāhi enough / for us all
to live tika / perhaps when the kids grow up / they can
tow the line / perhaps when they leave home / i can
chase out the fish