SOUTHERN OCEAN, 1850

(Hardwicke Colony, Auckland Island*)

put ashore settlers
all ashore in the

winter west wind
on the open beach

the white ship left
black shapes cough
in twisted trees

Blue Willow broken
in the whisky-
brown stream

the white ship is gone
coins hold our eyes shut
the west wind
is a razor
across the bare throat
of the yellow sky


* Hardwicke Colony was an early example of lousy market research. It was set up to supply passing ships, but the climate was impossible for raising animals or growing crops. The colonists took to violence and drink, and the survivors were removed a couple of years later. The ‘black shapes’ are sea lions, which shelter in (as well as under) the rata trees that cover the island.




KILLING CHAIN

Machinery runs like memory
from gate to plate

fat carcases with
no recollection of green
drip blood

a thousand incarnations
connect old links.
At the very end

tidy little lamb chops
with pink barrettes
lie curled under clear plastic
sucking their thumbs.

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