On Sunday afternoon at Three, some of us had the absolute privilege of going to a poetry reading in our beloved St Peter’s Hall with Helen Lehndorf, Airini Beautrias, and local poets, Helen Heath and Maria McMillan.
What a line up, how lucky were we?
Together these four glorious wāhine, weaved threads and strands of humanity, politics, art and the craft of writing, a mesmerising celebration and spellbinding afternoon of contemplation, revolutions, humour, and utter charm. The four of them fit together up front with the microphone like a well worn glove, all incredibly interesting, insightful masters of enchanting words and alternative worlds.
As the sun shone through the windows, melting us like butter in our chairs, it felt luxurious and delicious, their readings settling us into stillness and calm. It was rollicking, funny, musing and a little raucous at times. (Airini said poo). Not to mention the other great talents sitting in the audience, am I right? If you know, you know.
It felt very literary high-brow. We could have been somewhere really fancy but there we were on a glorious day all slotted in our neat rows in our small seaside town of Paekākāriki, to listen and be transformed, and we totally were.
There were little dogs, tea, biscuits (nice ones) and a feeling of uplift as we listened to their bravery and creativity, I felt quite seduced by the whole affair and had to close my eyes to take in their heartfelt wonder as they spoke of the joys of being poets in a modern world, rejections and bad reviews included.
I think we all felt quite oblivious to the outside world once they began, with only the birds as our soundtrack, but the considerate poets were worried we might get a little fidgety so cracked on and wrapped up under time. I could have easily listened to them all afternoon. How special I thought, that these four brilliant poets wanted to give up their time, for us, for free. (I hope they sold some copies!)
Having read and adored Airini’s magnificent The Beautiful Afternoon I felt humbled by her presence, and in awe of each of them as they spoke (but too shy to say hi!)
What truly fascinating characters they must all be behind the scenes, and I can imagine outrageously good guests for a fun dinner party. The graceful and grateful applause was wildly appropriate for such an occasion, clapping with soft hands and murmurs of quiet appreciation, we are all literary folk afterall, but at one point I wanted to stand up and yell – Great Scott, Bravo, standing ovation!
It reminded me of why I wanted to return to the village after living abroad, it’s not only ridiculously beautiful here but there is a sense of community that I have never experienced anywhere else.
One of my favourite quotes from Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn says,
In our village, folk say God crumbles up the old moon into stars… certainly apt on Sunday, in a room full of warmth and lightheartedness, all of us a love of literature.
Nga mihi nui to Helen Lehndorf, Airini Beautrias, Helen Heath, and Maria McMillan for sharing and caring about us all enough to gift us such beautiful kōrero and to those who left their lounge chairs and warm porches to show up for the sake of art.
As I heard one punter say ‘That was a hoot!’
Long may it continue.
(Helen Lehndorf, is also the author of A Forager’s Life, which is a very special memoir about the wild journey of motherhood, food and foraging and she has a new book out called The Bruise Palette. Airini Beautrias, also has a new collection called Salt Quilt and all four poet’s collections are available in our local bookstores and libraries.)
Photo credit Anthony Behrens / Firstarter Press
