her awa is a lyric
Wairoa Hōpūpū Hōnengenenge Matangirau!
her writing is a river
pūrākau and whakataukī
Wairoa Hōpūpū Hōnengenenge Matangirau!
onomatopoeia of bubbling
swirling
asperous
waters, Renee
inspiring and singular
quick quips and neon sneakers
sleeping taniwha and swear words
let us flow to the east
to the turquoise sweep of Te Whanga a Ruawharo
her ara hou gouged
from uku and dirt
bubbling out of the kitchen confines
swirling the wand about the pot
throwing open tatau un-pounamu
let us roil and churn
quipping and sneaking
pulling wahine up the jetty behind us
in these asperous times
the awa does not sleep
the taniwha awakes
Wairoa Hōpūpū Hōnengenenge Matangirau!