Rob Hack
Despite Meena
Despite Meena’s temper and rhubarb politics
there is hibiscus to yell its colour at passers by
Manihiki’s black pearls and Maungatea to climb.
Despite Tom Davis gone the Sheraton money
gone there are rich fields of taro the reef roars
assurance all day and Mike Tavioni sculpting.
Despite imports Takitumu’s bad luck and too
many cars there’s Kauraka’s stories movies on
at the Empire and market day raw fish and rukau.
Despite talking to strangers about loans plane fares
going up and sons not for the return home there is a
song at the airport Trader Jacks and Emily’s t-shirts.
