Cover image: K Ramanathan / Cover design: Jack Ross(November 19) A Bus Called Mr Nice Guy. ISBN 0-473-10526-8. Auckland: Perdrix Press, 2005. [ii] + 50 pp.
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Letter (to Gabriel White) (12/4/02)
- Saturday, January 19 –
- Mysore
- Timekeeper to the nation (22/1/02)
- Black eyebrows nose (22/1/02)
- Wednesday, January 23 –
- Bangalore
- Soon to be full six (24/1/02)
- Self-conscious in a chair (24/1/02)
- Sunday, January 27 –
- Pondicherry
- Long live classical divine Tamil (26/1/02)
- As crêpes they’re crap (26/1/02)
- Tuesday, January 29 –
- Thanjavur
- Always in a crowd (28/1/02)
- Put that pen away (28/1/02)
- Wednesday, January 30 –
- Madurai
- Once is never enough (31/1/02)
- Not knowing where we’re going (31/1/02)
- Police Report
- Kodaikanal
- Van Allen Hospital (2/2/02)
- Black cow lies in the road (2/2/02)
- Sunday, February 3 –
- Kodai / Kanyakumari
- Is this going to stay (3/2/02)
- They like to see me writing (3/2/02)
- Monday, February 4 –
- Cape Comorin
- The deer doesn’t enter (4/2/02)
- He is not a man (4/2/02)
- Tuesday, February 5 –
- Trivandrum
- They can make anything (5/2/02)
- Haunted eyes (5/2/02)
- Wednesday, February 6 –
- Kathakali
- A lot of action (6/2/02)
- This is my first (6/2/02)
- Thursday, February 7 –
- Varkala
- Meine Damen und Herren (7/2/02)
- The tank’s refilled (7/2/02)
- Friday, February 8 –
- Quilon / Alleppey
- No-time the expanse (8/2/02)
- Helping the Down Trodden (8/2/02)
- Saturday, February 9 –
- Fort Cochin
- Harbour full of islands (9/2/02)
- How do you like Kochi? (9/2/02)
- Monday, February 11 –
- Ernakulam
- Human contact (10/2/02)
- Do I exaggerate? (10/2/02)
- Tuesday, February 12 –
- Kochi / Bangalore
- Light on the tracks (13/2/02)
- One’s the buffoon (13/2/02)
- Wednesday, February 13 –
- Bangalore / Panjim
- The hooded horror (14/2/02)
- Sophie Marceau (14/2/02)
- Friday, February 15 –
- Panjim
- Fishermen (15/2/02)
- Inside the cabin (15/2/02)
- Saturday, February 16 –
- North Goa
- I’ve caught up with myself (16/2/02)
- Palolem Vagatur (16/2/02)
- Monday, February 18 –
- Madgaon
- Is it the moment? (18/2/02)
- Ahead of myself (18/2/02)
- Tuesday, February 19 –
- Madgaon / Bombay
- White herons taking flight (21/2/02)
- Life must go on (21/2/02)
- Thursday, February 21 –
- Bombay
- That is the biggest (22/2/02)
- I can laugh about it now (22/2/02)
- Friday, February 22 –
- Auckland
- New construction Amcare (25/2/02)
- An alien species (25/2/02)
- A B C (5/4/02)
for Pad & Meera
Ram & Raji
Srini & Munima
generous hosts & open-hearted friends
coelum non anium mutant qui trans mare currunt
[skies not souls they change who across seas course]
– Horace, Epistles 1: 11.27
Matt Kelly: South India (2005)•
(12/4/02)
Publications:
- A Bus Called Mr Nice Guy. ISBN 0-473-10526-8 (Auckland: Perdrix Press, 2005): 5.
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(19/1/02)
Publications:
- A Bus Called Mr Nice Guy. ISBN 0-473-10526-8 (Auckland: Perdrix Press, 2005): 6.
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Things are rather interesting when you do them for the first time. – Agatha Christie, Nemesis (1971)Timekeeper to the nation soundtrack in Kannada whiny female voice male bellow bananas monkeys rocks 300-million-year-old gneiss tracks lead on to somewhere? anywhere Black eyebrows nose don’t frown although your mother’s leaning over in her orange sari your blue jacket’s you intense
(22/1/02)
Publications:
- A Bus Called Mr Nice Guy. ISBN 0-473-10526-8 (Auckland: Perdrix Press, 2005): 7.
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(23/1/02)
Publications:
- A Bus Called Mr Nice Guy. ISBN 0-473-10526-8 (Auckland: Perdrix Press, 2005): 8.
- “Finds (5): Ocean of Stories.” The Imaginary Museum (14/1/11).
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I found a few barrowloads of books for sale, among them a very old life of Petrarch (MDCCLXXXII)... I was not so hard-hearted as not to feel a quickening of sympathy at the words of the old anonymous biographer of the poet ... Le Lundi de la Semaine Sainte, à six heures du matin, Pétrarque vit à Avignon, dans l’église des Réligieuses de Sainte-Claire une jeune femme dont la robe verte était parsemée de violettes. Sa beauté le frappa. C’était Laure. – Lawrence Durrell, Monsieur, or The Prince of Darkness (1974)Soon to be full six blue ribbon in your hair turn your hands like the temple dancers of Trivandrum Archaic India in your face and eyes Self-conscious in a chair as three five-year-olds cavort inexpertly to Lagaan Once upon a time in India a Bollywood of gestures shirt-pyjamas draw-strings of the heart
(24/1/02)
Publications:
- A Bus Called Mr Nice Guy. ISBN 0-473-10526-8 (Auckland: Perdrix Press, 2005): 9.
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(27/1/02)
Publications:
- A Bus Called Mr Nice Guy. ISBN 0-473-10526-8 (Auckland: Perdrix Press, 2005): 10.
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She has over-polked herself in London, and is sent here for quiet and country air. – Charlotte M. Yonge, The Heir of Redclyffe (1853)Long live classical divine Tamil simplicity Spirulina farm the way to Auroville is hard 6 kilometres over bramble fields cow stares with mild eyes crows infest the counting station Yeah old lady lifts her hand When I turn round the bicycle is gone As crêpes they’re crap Londoners are so rude I’m sorry? Gaia’s children Sonia English-Indian young blonde Carolien Rendezvous at half-past seven Lonely Planet guides they’re everywhere
(26/1/02)
Publications:
- “Tiger Country; from A Bus Called Mr Nice Guy: Misadventures in India.” JAAM 18 (2002): 90-100.
- A Bus Called Mr Nice Guy. ISBN 0-473-10526-8 (Auckland: Perdrix Press, 2005): 11.
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(29/1/02)
Publications:
- A Bus Called Mr Nice Guy. ISBN 0-473-10526-8 (Auckland: Perdrix Press, 2005): 12.
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Other unfavourable omens include a widow, lightning, fuel, smoky fire, pot of oil, leather, dog barking on a house-top, hare, crow flying from right to left, snake, new pot, blind man, lame man, sick man, salt, tiger, bundle of sticks, buttermilk, empty vessel, a quarrel, man with dishevelled hair, oil-man, leper and a mendicant. – Edgar Thurston, Ethnographic Notes in Southern India (1906)Always in a crowd man waiting for the bus a woman walks up puts out one gnarled hand they argue coconut husks piled higher than young trees Put that pen away Penny for the guy horned heads enamelled temple thatch your eyes burn through the black head-scarf take care or you’ll go tumbling off the end
(28/1/02)
Publications:
- A Bus Called Mr Nice Guy. ISBN 0-473-10526-8 (Auckland: Perdrix Press, 2005): 13.
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(30/1/02)
Publications:
- A Bus Called Mr Nice Guy. ISBN 0-473-10526-8 (Auckland: Perdrix Press, 2005): 14.
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Called the four principles of speech, the texts say ‘It should be bold as a lion, gentle and soft as a hare, pointed as an arrow and evenly balanced as a thunderbolt.’ – M. N. Rajesh, The Buddhist Monastery (1998)Once is never enough bus-driver’s horn or offer of a taxi Hello sir how are you? Go away we’re sleeping two French girls late in last night in no mood for a chai Not knowing where we’re going not understanding as he shouts at us some kind soul will translate the little shrine is hung with lotus flowers five gods watching over us in red
(31/1/02)
Publications:
- “Tiger Country; from A Bus Called Mr Nice Guy: Misadventures in India.” JAAM 18 (2002): 90-100.
- A Bus Called Mr Nice Guy. ISBN 0-473-10526-8 (Auckland: Perdrix Press, 2005): 15.
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(1/2/02)
Publications:
- A Bus Called Mr Nice Guy. ISBN 0-473-10526-8 (Auckland: Perdrix Press, 2005): 16.
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A woman’s instinct is often better than reasoning, Laura; to do the right thing without knowing why. – The Heir of RedclyffeVan Allen Hospital the fog was taxi sir? A horse rode by the rider looking stoned led by an Indian I was here first Horticulture in the mist the monkeys knowing why Black cow lies in the road Blue-white striped horns man in red beanie walking down brown skin You don’t like me because I’m dark Lily hugged him to show it wasn’t so
(2/2/02)
Publications:
- “Tiger Country; from A Bus Called Mr Nice Guy: Misadventures in India.” JAAM 18 (2002): 90-100.
- A Bus Called Mr Nice Guy. ISBN 0-473-10526-8 (Auckland: Perdrix Press, 2005): 17.
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(3/2/02)
Publications:
- A Bus Called Mr Nice Guy. ISBN 0-473-10526-8 (Auckland: Perdrix Press, 2005): 18.
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Is this an Indian disease, this urge to encapsulate the whole of reality? Worse: am I infected too? – Salman Rushdie, Midnight’s Children (1981)Is this going to stay with me? windmills under the hills Greek light hard-edged Dom Bede Griffiths at Thannirpalli churches over the ghats? They like to see me writing or it bothers them a notebook full of jottings jerkily irregular illegible rough roads faulty suspension Are lists of signs too measly to collect?
(3/2/02)
Publications:
- A Bus Called Mr Nice Guy. ISBN 0-473-10526-8 (Auckland: Perdrix Press, 2005): 19.
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(4/2/02)
Publications:
- A Bus Called Mr Nice Guy. ISBN 0-473-10526-8 (Auckland: Perdrix Press, 2005): 20.
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Does this path have a heart? If it does, the path is good; if it doesn’t, it is of no use. Both paths lead nowhere; but one has a heart, the other doesn’t. – Carlos Castaneda, The Teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui Way of Knowledge (1968)The deer doesn’t enter the mouth of a sleeping lion on his own – Hitopadesha Hotel’s rotating fan spells yin & yang moves air from scorching outside to cool dark He is not a man he is a gentleman – Swami Vivekananda rebuked a rude conductor Crammed on a bench sharp schoolboys at each end greeting each wave-crest with shrill cries
(4/2/02)
Publications:
- A Bus Called Mr Nice Guy. ISBN 0-473-10526-8 (Auckland: Perdrix Press, 2005): 21.
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(5/2/02)
Publications:
- A Bus Called Mr Nice Guy. ISBN 0-473-10526-8 (Auckland: Perdrix Press, 2005): 22.
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Charley was curious … about the voyage, and about the heat in India, and the serpents and the tigers; and as she picked up such information much faster than grammar, I told her what I knew … – Charles Dickens, Bleak House (1852-3)They can make anything there’s a shop down there where they copy clothes in an hour the ones you’re standing up in When my pack-zip bust picked by a knife they sewed it back for 70 rupees Haunted eyes like the man in the cap made from a towel beyond desire Pandies maddened with bhang (Macaulay) Yogi Do you smoke grass? A Swiss guy already asked me to get him some
(5/2/02)
Publications:
- “Tiger Country; from A Bus Called Mr Nice Guy: Misadventures in India.” JAAM 18 (2002): 90-100.
- A Bus Called Mr Nice Guy. ISBN 0-473-10526-8 (Auckland: Perdrix Press, 2005): 23.
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(6/2/02)
Publications:
- A Bus Called Mr Nice Guy. ISBN 0-473-10526-8 (Auckland: Perdrix Press, 2005): 24.
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‘I should think it hardly safe for so excitable a mind to dwell much on the world of fiction,’ said Philip. – The Heir of RedclyffeA lot of action behind the curtain Bhima lets us know he isn’t pleased with his wife’s treatment biting out entrails red rope knotted wool This is my first business in five days D’you have a sister or a mother? No, I wouldn’t cheat you wistful far-off look - for a world where saying made it so?
(6/2/02)
Publications:
- A Bus Called Mr Nice Guy. ISBN 0-473-10526-8 (Auckland: Perdrix Press, 2005): 25.
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(7/2/02)
Publications:
- A Bus Called Mr Nice Guy. ISBN 0-473-10526-8 (Auckland: Perdrix Press, 2005): 26.
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Wilma: I didn’t know anyone could be so wonderful, Buck. Buck: Neither did I. – The Collected Works of Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (1970)Meine Damen und Herren Carl has arrived Carl globe-trotter bronzed Ayurvedic ready with a quip an order prompt in English German Malayalam prisoner of God The tank’s refilled from up the hill the temple women wash their clothes where children swim we eat under an awning looking down on them
(7/2/02)
Publications:
- A Bus Called Mr Nice Guy. ISBN 0-473-10526-8 (Auckland: Perdrix Press, 2005): 27.
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(8/2/02)
Publications:
- A Bus Called Mr Nice Guy. ISBN 0-473-10526-8 (Auckland: Perdrix Press, 2005): 28.
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… her only care was to make him comfortable with cushions. – The Heir of RedclyffeNo-time the expanse of water white turban in the crowd head following mine the Dutchman puffs his cigarette birds pass overhead the palmtrees grow Helping the Down Trodden village girls chop straw to paste on pipal leaves for us to buy for discounted rupees gives me a feeling Warm? I couldn’t say
(8/2/02)
Publications:
- “Tiger Country; from A Bus Called Mr Nice Guy: Misadventures in India.” JAAM 18 (2002): 90-100.
- A Bus Called Mr Nice Guy. ISBN 0-473-10526-8 (Auckland: Perdrix Press, 2005): 29.
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(9/2/02)
Publications:
- A Bus Called Mr Nice Guy. ISBN 0-473-10526-8 (Auckland: Perdrix Press, 2005): 30.
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She behaved like a perfect machine of desire – her heart cold, her bottom warm. – Anon, A Man with a Maid (c.1900)Harbour full of islands plied with ferries French girl munching chips Wouldn’t it be fun to do whatever you want on a river-boat? I did it on the Mekong Trees on either side How do you like Kochi? Hot I answer Not the right reply but walking miles through streets without a footpath plagued by rickshaws any oasis looks like a mirage
(9/2/02)
Publications:
- “Tiger Country; from A Bus Called Mr Nice Guy: Misadventures in India.” JAAM 18 (2002): 90-100.
- A Bus Called Mr Nice Guy. ISBN 0-473-10526-8 (Auckland: Perdrix Press, 2005): 31.
•
(11/2/02)
Publications:
- A Bus Called Mr Nice Guy. ISBN 0-473-10526-8 (Auckland: Perdrix Press, 2005): 32.
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My formula for touring in India now is: the most interesting and least enjoyable country in the world. – Joseph Campbell, Baksheesh and Brahman: Indian Journal 1954-55 (1995)Human contact when the face next to yours sneezes arm touching your hand a hundred heads beside you crammed in a ferry cheerful out for their Sunday Do I exaggerate? Falsify the original contention? St Mary’s boat’s alongside No crowding there no timid pat to move your feet along
(10/2/02)
Publications:
- A Bus Called Mr Nice Guy. ISBN 0-473-10526-8 (Auckland: Perdrix Press, 2005): 33.
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(12/2/02)
Publications:
- A Bus Called Mr Nice Guy. ISBN 0-473-10526-8 (Auckland: Perdrix Press, 2005): 34.
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Who travels alone, without lover or friend, But hurries from nothing, to naught at the end. – Ella Wheeler WilcoxLight on the tracks at night in a half-strange country half-strange half-fresh returning to the bright lights nurse your backache half-awake One’s the buffoon they laugh as he slips climbing spills food forgets to wipe his thongs at 5 a.m. he’s bubbly but afraid
(13/2/02)
Publications:
- A Bus Called Mr Nice Guy. ISBN 0-473-10526-8 (Auckland: Perdrix Press, 2005): 35.
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(13/2/02)
Publications:
- A Bus Called Mr Nice Guy. ISBN 0-473-10526-8 (Auckland: Perdrix Press, 2005): 36.
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… despite many disadvantages, there is much that is attractive about the poison-damsel. – Penzer, The Ocean of Story (1924)The hooded horror lying in the dark on the sleeper bus The hood was his head! Like Anna K. under the train the lack of pressure’s almost worth the pain Sophie Marceau where are you taking me? Away from cinnamon breath the plains by night wheat winnowed under roadblocks every kith a kin
(14/2/02)
Publications:
- A Bus Called Mr Nice Guy. ISBN 0-473-10526-8 (Auckland: Perdrix Press, 2005): 37.
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(15/2/02)
Publications:
- A Bus Called Mr Nice Guy. ISBN 0-473-10526-8 (Auckland: Perdrix Press, 2005): 38.
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It is not the perfect but the imperfect who have need of love. – Oscar Wilde, An Ideal Husband, dir. Oliver Parker (1999)Fishermen walk on water the band tunes up to play You are my angel of the morning five Brit tourists steal the remaining chairs Inside the cabin the girls get ready sunset will oblige no doubt Do you want a picture? No the wind blows through their dance
(15/2/02)
Publications:
- “Tiger Country; from A Bus Called Mr Nice Guy: Misadventures in India.” JAAM 18 (2002): 90-100.
- A Bus Called Mr Nice Guy. ISBN 0-473-10526-8 (Auckland: Perdrix Press, 2005): 39.
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(16/2/02)
Publications:
- A Bus Called Mr Nice Guy. ISBN 0-473-10526-8 (Auckland: Perdrix Press, 2005): 40.
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A man needs roots. Specially a singin’ man tryin’ to catch at the heart of people. He needs to know where his pappy worked and which families his mom did washing for. ... Like they say … a man springs from the soil, but he don’t spring far. – James Michener, Centennial (1974)I’ve caught up with myself veg or non-veg? teetotal / non-teetotal the nice man beside me says he comes here to restore from Bombay wears a silver fern Palolem Vagatur crisp sand green coconut palms blue of the Arabian gulf sky red earth or crumbling hillside seduction rules out ambiguity
(16/2/02)
Publications:
- A Bus Called Mr Nice Guy. ISBN 0-473-10526-8 (Auckland: Perdrix Press, 2005): 41.
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(18/2/02)
Publications:
- A Bus Called Mr Nice Guy. ISBN 0-473-10526-8 (Auckland: Perdrix Press, 2005): 42.
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Better one’s own duty though flawed Than another’s duty well performed. – The Baghavad GitaIs it the moment? Yes, I suppose it is spike above the green Belltower white as Maya ruins hemmed in like slaves we should know better than to disobey Ahead of myself no speed-bumps on a bridge for God’s sake totter out into our path red sari vanishing point some way off in the trees
(18/2/02)
Publications:
- A Bus Called Mr Nice Guy. ISBN 0-473-10526-8 (Auckland: Perdrix Press, 2005): 43.
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(19/2/02)
Publications:
- A Bus Called Mr Nice Guy. ISBN 0-473-10526-8 (Auckland: Perdrix Press, 2005): 44.
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… only if one pits two views against each other can one weasel between them to arrive at the real world. – Carlos Castaneda, Tales of Power (1974)White herons taking flight from the wetlands early morning fog stare past the window patiently denying it to others There’ll be a tunnel soon Life must go on baby must be changed on any bit of benching Mine bare nungas fit around me Wipe the nylon down
(21/2/02)
Publications:
- “Tiger Country; from A Bus Called Mr Nice Guy: Misadventures in India.” JAAM 18 (2002): 90-100.
- A Bus Called Mr Nice Guy. ISBN 0-473-10526-8 (Auckland: Perdrix Press, 2005): 45.
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(21/2/02)
Publications:
- A Bus Called Mr Nice Guy. ISBN 0-473-10526-8 (Auckland: Perdrix Press, 2005): 46.
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In general when calamity is about to befall, The intellect of a person is affected. – The HitopadeshaThat is the biggest slum in Asia Well cheers mate now that I know that what do I do? When hands come through the window begging for change? I can laugh about it now but somehow laughter was the last thing on my mind while screeching at two smirking taxi- drivers tripping over floodlights two left feet
(22/2/02)
Publications:
- “Tiger Country; from A Bus Called Mr Nice Guy: Misadventures in India.” JAAM 18 (2002): 90-100.
- A Bus Called Mr Nice Guy. ISBN 0-473-10526-8 (Auckland: Perdrix Press, 2005): 47.
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(22/2/02)
Publications:
- A Bus Called Mr Nice Guy. ISBN 0-473-10526-8 (Auckland: Perdrix Press, 2005): 48.
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God loves us all no matter who Pray that as humans we do too – St George’s Presbyterian Church, TakapunaNew construction Amcare Change and decay in all around I … Not really no a flock of cards new bills it’s hard to say what’s with the weather when you’ve been away An alien species yeah quite fun to hide among them though girls with ponytails boys He gets $25,000 a day just from his shares
(25/2/02)
Publications:
- A Bus Called Mr Nice Guy. ISBN 0-473-10526-8 (Auckland: Perdrix Press, 2005): 49.
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(for Lee Dowrick and the Bookshop Poets)Burnt blond by the sun of India riding shotgun in a borrowed car you know which one’s the real one & which one Strew your change across the floor lean over further further over balance almost run the marathon or something Airway Breathing Circulation mushroom cloud behind the tower swing your arms once twice feel sinful thereI will tell you a day in my life that has shaped me… A great waterfall I climbed … Because I have stood there alone … my heart has been higher, my song deeper, all my days. – C. S. Lewis, Out of the Silent Planet (1938)
(5/4/02)
Publications:
- A Bus Called Mr Nice Guy. ISBN 0-473-10526-8 (Auckland: Perdrix Press, 2005): 50.
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