Louise Wallace

Louise Wallace's debut poetry collection Since June was released in December 2009 through Victoria University Press. Her poetry has also been previously published in literary journals including Meanjin and Sport. Louise lives with her partner in Wellington by a stream.

Wallace comments: ' "The Poi Girls" is one of those rare poems that came to me almost fully-formed in the middle of the night. I scribbled it down then and there, and I wish this happened more often! I grew up in Gisborne and the essence of this poem comes from there. The poem is about childhood, curiosity and the nature of difference, but contains a certain menace too. Through the sound of the poi and its repetition I hoped to convey the weight and seriousness that events so often have when you experience them as a child.'

Poem: The Poi Girls

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