
woa
poetry
We have some amazing poets in New Zealand and
nothing is more powerful that the written word. Here we offer a chance to read
the poems you have heard on woa.
Local poet, Helen Lowe, will be talking to Canterbury poets, on the
first Sat in the month.

Robynanne
Milford & Songcatcher
Robynanne Milford is a Christchurch GP and mother of three adult
children who has read as a guest poet for the Canterbury Poets' Collective
Madras Cafe Bookshop Autumn Season of Poetry Reading, been anthologised in
Crest to Crest: Impressions of Canterbury Poetry & Prose and been published
in a number of New Zealand literary journals. Songcatcher (Whitestream
Press, 2009) is Robynanne's first collection and she talks with Helen about her
love of poetry and the passions and interests behind the collection.
The Conductor’s cardinal cap
for Michael Harlow
When the conductor moved next door
he swallowed the house in music
and silence left home.
At dawn he opened with a chorus
except on days of reveille
‘lest we forget to remember’
water music flowed
breakfast eaten on the edge
when it rained acid jazz teased the air
all day he composed himself
at times percussive thumps
percolated. Passers stopped cocked
Outside the music conductor always wore
his cardinal’s cap carried his bone baton
for missa cantata, de profundus and
Deo Deo Deogratitias gra tit iaaaaas
One day he made overtures to Carmine
but when she harped on he cut her strings
Soon he was seduced by the flautist, Isabelle
on her magic flute. Ah grand opi
appassionanato all night long
in no time there were pizzicata
baby grande, twin glorias and
a boy who grew into a double base
often of an evening the 1840 was heard
complete with cannonfire.
In order for his quartet to tune up
He was forbidden to play his organ at night
so he planted by lunar cycles
to strains of moonlight sonata
When his wife sang of butterflies
the pearl fishers took her away in a net
the house mourned in adagio for strings
the e minors tucked a requiem over the whole section
and flew windward.
Soon he too was consumed, ascended a stairway to heaven
silence moved home
found a cardinal’s cap a bone baton
conducting bluebells blood trumpets bellbirds Gloria in excelsis
(c) Robynanne Milford, 2009