The Friday Poem: ‘Converngaro #156’ by Miriama Gemmell
Image: Tina Tiller
A new poem by Miriama Gemmell.
Converngaro #156
Wairua: Would the climate crisis be resolved if Papatūānuku had personhood status?
Mauri: Āna!
Hinengaro: Imagine law change so every manufacturer has to be carbon neutral and has to provide recycling services for their packaging.
Mauri: And stockists are accountable for their imports.
Wairua: And laws prohibit water pollution beyond some pre-industrial level.
Hinengaro: Meat would cost a shit load.
Mauri: Meat should cost a shit load, for the fresh water and land use for feed it requires.
Wairua: Imagine seeing Papatūānuku’s name in the news like she’s real.
Mauri: She is real.
Wairua: Winning court cases, smashing out new regulations, all while literally making life possible.
Hinengaro: I wish I was that high functioning.
Mauri: You probably need more iron for that.
The Friday Poem is edited by Chris Tse. Submissions are currently closed.
Miriama Gemmell
Ko Ngāti Pāhauwera, Ngāti Rakaipaaka, Ngāti Kahungunu ngā iwi. Miriama's poetry has recently been published in Te Whē, Tarot, Awa Wahine and Climate Change Anthology: No Other Place To Stand. She lives in Te Ūpoko-o-te-ika-a-Māui with her hoa rangatira, Richard, and two tamariki, James Rewi (8) and Hana Tirohia (6). Miriama washes yoghurt pots and feels closer to her tīpuna.
