Afterglow
August 25, 2019 posted by John Duke

AFTERGLOW: NATIONAL POETRY DAY 2019 – Wild Honey: Reading NZ Women’s Poetry

AFTERGLOW: NATIONAL POETRY DAY 2019 – Wild Honey: Reading NZ Women’s Poetry

National Poetry Day 2019 made for a busy Friday at Unity Books Wellington as a roster of NZ women poets lined up to recite their work in celebration of the day, the women, the poetry, and the publication of a comprehensive new survey: Wild Honey: Reading NZ Women’s Poetry by Paula Green. Illustrated throughout by Sarah Laing and featuring the work of 195 poets (with biographies and full bibliographies), Wild Honey has been called a landmark volume and an incredible achievement.

Paula, a highly regarded poet herself, was excited to be joined by a group of the poets featured in the book including, carina gallegos, Stefanie Lash, Therese Lloyd, Maria McMillan and Manon Revuelta, as well as musician and actor Moana Ete who gave a moving reading of a poem written specially for the occasion by Maraea Rakuraku. Each of the poets, including Paula, gave readings of several poems with subject matter ranging from the immigrant experience, to reclaiming the ‘C’ word, to Christchurch in the 80’s, to love poetry, to toxic masculinity and beyond. A packed audience was kept enthralled throughout by the breadth, depth and quality of the work shared and were keen to meet with the poets and have their books signed before heading home to get lost in the pastures of Wild Honey.

 

Paula Green gets the ball rolling

A keen crowd fills out the store to hear women Poets of Aotearoa New Zealand

carina gallegos reads from All of Us

Stefanie Lash takes the second turn to read

A day to contemplate the strength and breadth of women’s poetry in Aotearoa New Zealand

Therese Lloyd reads from The Facts

Maria McMillan shares a new poem

Manon Revuelta reads work featured in Wild Honey

Paula Green and Moana Ete listening intently

Moana Ete reads Maraea Rakuraku’s poem Allies: A Checklist

standing/floor seating room only

Co-authors of All of us, carina gallegos and Adrienne Jansen

 

Wild Honey: Reading New Zealand Women’s Poetry is available to purchase in-store and at unitybooksonline now.

Words and pictures by John Duke

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