bio:
Mahinarangi Tocker is an acclaimed singer-songwriter. She was the first Maori woman invited to perform at the Vancouver Folk Festival, and has worked with international artists such as Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Clannad, Tracy Chapman, Shawn Colvin, and Richard Thompson. Her first book of poetry, Lyrics without melody, published by Street Women's Press was released in March 2001. She is one of the several artists who took part in the destigmatisation of mental illness in a television ad campaign in New Zealand called Like Minds, Like Mine.She is completing a collection of short stories.

Supper with Irena

'do you want another?  
'cos I don't want to go yet  
I think there's a coat in the car  
if you're cold.' 
 
it's cool summer  
in ponsonby cafes  
we are tabled on stones  
where walk the couples 
 
men with men  
in talks that look tight  
and walk that smoothes  
the footpath  
crack 
 
early january  
late night  
wine and coffee  
to whet the tummy grumble  
cake and cream  
to guilt the thought fumble 
 
i like you  
i love you  
she shares with me  
her smile  
and for a second  
there is no one here  
but us


Copyright © 2002 by Mahinarangi Tocker

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Dedicated to Richard T

February 3rd  
Tamaki Makaurau 
 
take my eyes patterned  
against your blue  
i watch you dance the strings  
so, dance the strings like you do  
to  
break a heart  
but take it  
to a new sound  
kind man of Celtic breath  
the soul  
is rested 
 
Saturday evening  
Auckland autumn calling 
 
play another & sing one more  
we're listening  
laugh some more & talk us  
into believing 
 
you take those parts  
that have ached me cold  
where ice sticks  
and sing them into summer 
 
a friend for a day  
a memory for a lifetime


Copyright © 2002 by Mahinarangi Tocker

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A Poem For You

i'm sitting here in this loud bird  
this bird with no song  
this bird-like waka  
in this  
this rumble of strangers  
going to a sameness  
where only our hearts are different  
until i am landed  
and i see more changes  
and walk a different fear  
and see a different colour  
and breathe a different voice 
 
my tears fall further  
than she who watches amused  
i know she wants to ask  
but i won't tell  
i cannot 
 
i have nothing to say  
even to myself  
what is there left between right and wrong  
fear and desire  
when everything untouched screams to be held 
 
i walk beneath a sun  
but i am burnt in a darkness  
i have not planned to understand  
nor should i 
 
and so i never shall 
 
i will miss you without yelling  
i will miss you without talking  
i will miss you without you even knowing


Copyright © 2002 by Mahinarangi Tocker 
 
waka - a traditional Maori canoe

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