trout

The Painter (Karaka)

Te Purapura (29 February 2002)

Ben Kemp

Under the arms of a Pohutakawa
the sea swells,
like a flute to the ear,
quenching the thirst in his eye,

lifting his brush & wrapping his knees to the trunk,
the roots descend from his feet,

opening his mouth & straightening his back,
he raises his hands with fantails shooting from
his fingertips.

Kua tii tana moemoea e toona whanaungatanga ki a Tangaroa