Not long to kick-off!

No, not that one – the one that happens after NZ returns to the relative normality of a post-RWC election campaign AND Tim Jones and I begin our joint book launch tour of the country (see my post of 31 Aug).

In case you weren't aware, Tim's collection of poetry is called 'Men Briefly Explained'. The following Poem is from Tim's book:

Family Man

My double relishes his freedom to move

through narrative and time. You'll find him

in the trunks of burned-out cars,

in the cat seat of history, riding pillion

as the motorcade fails to take the bend.

On the red carpet, just behind the stars,

he whispers poison in each lovely ear.

He’s the sine qua non, the ne plus ultra,

the hand chained to the plague ship’s tiller,

the indispensable figure of the fifth act.

But now he’s taken to hanging round the house,

not picking up, showing the boy amusing tricks

and games to play with string. I’m bored,

my double tells me, and:- how can you stand

to live this way? I look into his empty face.

You’re the one who chose to fall in love, I say.