New verse by Auckland writer Carin Smeaton.
Rēkohu, he got his eye on you
he’s from the chathams
you dont meet many people from there do u
he says he keeping his name top secret cos it’s a small world out there
all he’ll say is she’s opening up to the point
of taking the extra care
of what she wears
taking the time to look nice
the makeup the hair the slip off the shoulder
they just love he says
the attention he says
they goes out of their ways to get noticed & it’s working
a treat
she’s warming she’s talking
she’s blossoming out
he picks petals to throw in her shadow
he’s had his eye on her waiting for her after church to talk to her
bout her ex
(that cunt) he been trouble
heard he been dishing it up
in her garden of moonlights and blackjacks
making her shrink
in and out
of his fandango dipped deeds
(but u never the same after a nervous breakdown are you)
tho she’ll be okay he’d take her far away on a plane
to the chathams he says
if he had the chance
if it didnt cost him an arm & a leg
he’d take the kids too
Carin Smeaton
Carin Smeaton
Carin Smeaton is an Aucklander living in Grey Lynn with whanau. She works as an Indigenous research librarian. Her book, Hibiscus Tart (Titus,2024) was recently longlisted for the Ockhams. Her new collection, Death Goddess Guide To Self Love (Titus, 2025) is hot off the press & available in a library or bookshop near you - if not, please request it!
