Title: Sport 40: 2012

Publication details: Fergus Barrowman, 2014, Wellington

Part of: Sport

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Sport 40: 2012

Kerrin P. Sharpe

page 28

Kerrin P. Sharpe

When Gerry Thinks of Angels He Hears Their Wings

Morning

Gerry’s at the ATM
moving money
to build a house.

Afternoon

The earth cries
and so does his family.
Gerry drives
then sprints down Bealey
up Barbadoes.

The Basilica is a waltz of stone
brutal and gale force.
The wings of angels
collapse into smoke.

A statue of Mary
becomes a pilgrim
and turns 180 degrees
to watch over Gerry

to watch him avoid
corrugated iron
weatherboards
bricks, a stainless steel sink
page 29 to pray when he somehow
reaches Cashmere
and his family
stumbles towards him.

Evening

Gerry’s on the roof
with strong ropes and a tarpaulin
persuading his house to be still.

He remembers the two angels
high above the Basilica’s entrance,
how they clung to the cross
and kept vigil.

page 30

The Alchemy of Snow

Snow is often found
at the Biology bar
in the company of
potash and potassium.

*

Her different melting points
make relationships
difficult.

*

She can be driven.

*

She has many names:
Cyril, Tim, Bunny, Poppy
and so on. They form
the scaffolding of her memory.

*

She is the fortunate
symbol of news from abroad
and appears in teacups.

*

page 31 The Edmond’s book (1955)
published her recipes: Coconut
Ice, Vanilla Snow, Snow
Pudding and Melting Moments.

*

Using the Le Chatelier
principle, she reverses
herself. ‘There is this fruity smell.'

*

Late at night farmers often
hear her playing the
accordion while she treats
psoriasis in their horses.

*

She is energy favourable.
For the painting A Dutch Funeral
snow slid a simple pine coffin
over frozen fields and under the
smock mill’s criss-cross sails
and rickety gallery. She
decorated the black veils
of mourners and comforted
a small dog.

*

She is utterly faithful
to the blackbird.