To conclude NZ poetry day 2010 Phantom Poetry Poster celebrations in Hamilton three local politicans read Cilla McQueens wonderful poem "Anthems". All together now...
I like this esp. the line, 'their laughter bangs against the moon.' Terrific.
”isn't it great to have a passion for something and to be able to share it with people? Keep up the good word.
”Jim, O Jim thou art inspired/
poster paperer/
iambic flyers:/
a spondee here/
a dactyl there/
you paste up joy/
you stick/
to air/
immaculate shimmering/
lines of light/
every/
single/
where
Jeffrey
”We could do with an ambassador like you in Paris, Jim. I sent a request through to the Embassy here to use a corner of their place for a booklaunch and they said it wasn't "appropriate". Well what is, if NZ writing isn't? I fear the embassies are too focussed on the big trading buck -- too afraid to stepping out of line. Like you say, "These financial institutions are full of people picking money like it was candy and one day it will all come unstuck. It must." Great stuff! Ah Kerouac! I think I got the driving bug from reading him, and still have it -- and all those colourful characters had their equivalents in 70s NZ, for sure. A great epoch which we (tho I'm younger) almost share (also, almost with Stephen). As for immigration, I'm looking at the spine of a book by John F. Kennedy right now, 'A Nation of Immigrants'. Peoples have to keep in flux, immigration keeps 'em healthy, fresh and hopeful (not forgetting the mana of the music) -- (hey, it even refreshes the gene pool, for those fasco-geneticists out there!) Cheers, Bill D. (PS thanks a million for slapping (stapling?) one of my poems on the street. That's just the coolest place for a poem.
”
I was inclined to tell the Jim Wilson story to a fellow juicer recently, This guy is an inspiring character and I see his inpirees all over the place. That he is returning to NZ is a great benefit to the nation.
”