Long Weekend
It's about driving back from the Plateau
out of the weekends Big Sky
red earth
and mythical bush
easing into Taihape
black tea leaves
early afternoon's
sunshine garden café
on into the green
poplar trees and Perendales
The Rangitikei
giving spring its flush
Sun dipping on
heavy fields
the weight of the Manawatu
—change drivers
Kapiti
In his final hour
golden the edge of the sky
where the Sounds' fingers cling to the day
At last, the harbour's stormy teacup
Wellington's surreal city lights
Clung to the tanniny sides
the road, nowhere to go — but back