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Teresia Teaiwa

New Zealand

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Enigmatic blue on a weekly basis - Andy Leleisi'uao

I draw my Pacific Islands heritage from the nation of Kiribati in the Central Pacific, but I grew up in Fiji and for most of my life, that was 'home'. I now live in Wellington, New Zealand where I teach Pacific Studies at Victoria University of Wellington. I wrote the poems below while I was in London, researching the history of Fijian soldiers in the British Army. For many years, poetry has crucially functioned as ballast for my academic thinking and analysis. In 2008 I released a CD of poetry and sound called "I can see Fiji". It was produced by Hinemoana Baker, featured percussion by Des Mallon, and was made possible by a grant from Creative New Zealand. In Radio New Zealand's 'Best of 2008' listings, "I can see Fiji" was named one of three CDs of poetry and music that managed to enhance both disciplines. You can purchase a copy of "I can see Fiji" from https://kstore.net.nz/hinemoana/store.html .

Post-Wimbledon Blues at the Swinton Hotel

Sweaty under foot

Taking magic outside

London is arriving

As I fade

My feet crack back

Into pleasant games

Of clinical bleeding

Toe tennis dazzles

Without the smell of the sea

Agoraphobia at the Swinton Hotel

Housekeeper drops

Spoons milk

Balances clean

Cups fresh

Water wishes

Me a well

Seven and eight stories of Fiji in Sloane

I rode the wrong way

To catch the Circle

Walked past history

Trying to access wifi

Going to educate myself

On empire

No one notices

Fijians smiling for photographs

Te Ariki Campbell’s boys crying

Vulnerability in the best practices

Of the British Army

Empire

Ended

Empire

Changed

In King’s Cross while...

1.

I can see Fiji

being pressed

At Amstore

2.

MOD is not calling

3.

Sandhurst not calling

4.

Sean and the kids, not

Today

5.

Obama’s trail

Leads to London

6.

Pukerua’s poems

Fly over handlebars

7.

Paekakariki’s taste

Good on the tongue