Ōtepoti-Dunedin is a UNESCO City of Literature. I feel fortunate to live here and the city inspires me constantly.
As a member of the Octagon Poetry Collective, I am honoured to take part in, occasionally MC, and always attend our Poetry Reading and Open Mic nights. These occur once a month from February to November each year. Currently we are graciously hosted on the second-to-last Wednesday of the month at Dog With Two Tails.
It’s easy to get a feel for what a poetry night with an open mic is like if you’ve not been.
During a recent evening [and as I do at basically every sesh] I took notes about most of the open mic people who graced the stage, and have since arranged these notes into a poem. Here it is:
OPEN MIC SEPTEMBER DUNEDIN An elder said hai uku “Sorry, I don’t write hai ukus” He leaned in to see his own words in the dimness Perched on the edge of the stage Lenses fair perched on his non-pinced nez The old world is dying The new world is struggling to be born Kyra’s voice cracks a little and she flows quick There’s not much time she’s right get it fast The wizened mouth of Brosnan He wants us to hear him but He can’t bear to be Loud A story of a man’s love Misplaced in a watch Polished while his family frayed And ate Mexican food Alison introduced in a thunderous Solo applause She talks of Judith She exhales deeply in perfumed airs “Rae gave all her energy To her brats” A classic mullet tells a tale A true mate, alright…oh good old Rae Angela, sweet Angela She exudes love and familial care I am there with her and daffodils laid Great great whakapapa weavers there Maddy has a nametag She speaks of a soul And soles for escaping A man’s life A muso braves a poets’ Open mic a capella George St inspires Octagonal thoughts Ngaio presents a circle Of anxiety Circles of sound clasped Around her neck.