The Friday Poem: ‘Nan’s tangi’ by Nicole Titihuia Hawkins
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A new poem by 2022 Jessie Mackay Prize for Poetry winner Nicole Titihuia Hawkins.
Nan’s tangi
I remember / the other girls / rode horses / did ballet / sports too / just Netball / for me / Nan wanted us to join a marching group / Nan wanted us to learn how to dance with a partner / rock’n’roll / pulled out / one hot pink / circle skirt / between four / fight / to fit / in / to it.
I turned 13 / I got my ear cartilage pierced / sterling silver elephant / she said / it was quite sweet / asked me / you’re not going to get your nose pierced are you?
I remember the whare / packed / toasty / even in August / my cousin played out in the dark / dug shallow graves in the sandpit / practiced whaikōrero / our parents spoke in whispers / my mattress / under the tangaroa heke / Nokia snake / green back light lullaby.
I turned 14 / got my nose pierced / the technician / charged $10 / no-appointment necessary hairdressers / got the gun stuck twice / the hole would never heal / a giant open pore / a gaping taunt.
The Friday Poem is edited by Chris Tse. Submissions are currently closed but will be open again soon.
Nicole Titihuia Hawkins
Nicole Titihuia Hawkins (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Te Wairoa, Ngāti Pāhauwera) is a writer, teacher, red lipstick enthusiast and proud māmā. She lives in Te Awakairangi and runs side hustles with her besties in her spare time. Her collection, Whai, won the Jessie Mackay Prize for best first book of Poetry at the 2022 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards.
