Hinemoana Baker

A Walk With Your Father



Before you do anything else, check your lungs.
Are they the right size for you, are you the right size for them?
Are they nice and snug against your ribs and spine?
Don’t worry if they’re a bit big for you, you’ll grow into them.
They must be full, however; you don’t want them empty.
You have a long way to go.

Put your hand inside your mouth and make sure
everything’s in its place, check that all the pipes and hoses
leading from your lungs into your mouth are in position and in good nick.
You don’t want any leaks or sudden explosions
this is your air we’re talking about.
Close your mouth securely around this apparatus.

Next check your weight. If you are too heavy
or too light you won’t get anywhere. By the way
there’s no need to take a whole lot of extras with you.
Some people strap expensive knives to their legs and wear protective gloves.
There’s no real need for any of this—an ordinary old sharp knife
from the kitchen drawer will do. And just your bare hands.
You may need to signal to each other.

Now pay some attention to your skin.
It should feel secure and warm
but also allow plenty of room to move freely.
There are any number of colours available nowadays—
they all do pretty much the same job.

Your feet, are they the right size?
If they’re too large you will tire quickly,
too small and you’ll be left behind.
You’re probably looking at feet
about the same size as his.

Your eyes—spit in them.
It keeps everything clear.

That step you’re about to take
will have to be wider than you’re used to.
Don’t forget to move forwards, not backwards.
Keep your hand on your mouth so everything stays in place
when you break the surface.

Mihi to Tangaroa. Mihi to Hinemoana.
Now get in under there,
immerse yourself.

Do it now, go.
He’ll be right behind you.




Hinemoana Baker is a New Zealand poet, fiction writer and playwright.





James Lee Jobe

Building A Better Human



For starters - give your new human
a pair of good, strong feet to stride on,
an understanding to build on.

Then add legs long enough to reach
from ankle to hip withouth a problem.
Don't skimp on the knees, either;
How else can one ever walk away?

And I think a human needs
a fine, round belly, which helps prevent
wearing the pants too high,
and feels pretty good in bed
when it is nice and full.
A big belly is also excellent
when one is floating at the lake.
In fact, if the belly is especially prominent,
give it a name like Hank, or Merle,
"Yeah me and ol' Hank will have
another slice of that peach pie."

And give your human lots of pie.

There is no point in building a human
without strong shoulders and a kind heart;
even if your human doesn't use them often,
the other humans nearby certainly will!

Put a good, solid head on those shoulders,
both for thinking and for hat wearing,
possibly even at the same time.

The last thing that comes to mind
is a dream. A human being needs a dream.
Through dreams your human can come to a life
worth living, in a world worth having.

Good feet, strong shoulders, a solid head,
a kind heart, and a dream;
that's a human, alright.



James Lee Jobe is a monkey boy and foole.


Feel free to email me poems, poetry reading announcements, or poetry links.

jamesleejobe@gmail.com

ALL GOOD THINGS - JOBE