Title: Songs of My Life

Author: Bill Manhire

In: Sport 11: Spring 1993

Publication details: Fergus Barrowman, November 1993, Wellington

Part of: Sport

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Sport 11: Spring 1993

[section]

page 41

‘Tumberling tumberling tumberling tumberling tumbleweed,’ sings Maria.

‘What are you thinking about?’ he says. ‘Colin?’

‘About about about,’ says Maria. ‘Yes, what about?’

I try to think of something to be thinking. Maria pours another Pimm’s No. 1 Cup. They say they exist, but no one I ever met has seen a Pimm’s No. 2 Cup.

‘Sing something,’ she says.

‘Me?’ I said.

‘You,’ she said.

I looked around. No sign of Pingao. Just the dog howling in the distance—car coming fast along a gravel road.

Scandal in the elbow,
Trouble in the knee . . .

‘I will cut out your tongue,’ she says, ‘and keep it in my shoe.’

I placed my hands upon her body in a sexual manner. Gospel Song settled himself behind the sofa. Rattling in his throat.

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