From St Helier's Bay

Rod MacKenzie

I remember being here,
Though it’s not a place I’ve been to before.
The water is dimpled with light
And children’s laughter echoes through the swells.
I remember tides that were a forest of pines
In a storm, their rolling, leafy fever
The green, furling tunnels
Between these crests and troughs.

The light in both places is wept foam
Swallowed by the darkness I always long for,
A swirling womb. My sister once took me here;
I toddled along, holding her hand, and fretted
About sharks, crabs and monsters. She still looks back
Down her arm to me, laughing, calling me on,
Even though she’s dead now.
Yes, I recall being here,
And this is the first time I’ve visited.

New Zealand

LitNet: 30 May 2006

Click here to return to Rod MacKenzie's index page.

Did you enjoy this poem? Have your say! Send your comments to webvoet@litnet.co.za, and become a part of our interactive opinion page. Or submit your own poetry to Michelle McGrane for consideration.

Click here to receive our newsletter - your weekly cultural fix! Check out what's sizzling on our newsletter this week

back    /     to the top

© Kopiereg in die ontwerp en inhoud van hierdie webruimte behoort aan LitNet, uitgesluit die kopiereg in bydraes wat berus by die outeurs wat sodanige bydraes verskaf. LitNet streef na die plasing van oorspronklike materiaal en na die oop en onbeperkte uitruil van idees en menings. Die menings van bydraers tot hierdie werftuiste is dus hul eie en weerspieël nie noodwendig die mening van die redaksie en bestuur van LitNet nie. LitNet kan ongelukkig ook nie waarborg dat hierdie diens ononderbroke of foutloos sal wees nie en gebruikers wat steun op inligting wat hier verskaf word, doen dit op hul eie risiko. Media24, M-Web, Ligitprops 3042 BK en die bestuur en redaksie van LitNet aanvaar derhalwe geen aanspreeklikheid vir enige regstreekse of onregstreekse verlies of skade wat uit sodanige bydraes of die verskaffing van hierdie diens spruit nie. LitNet is ’n onafhanklike joernaal op die Internet, en word as gesamentlike onderneming deur Ligitprops 3042 BK en Media24 bedryf.