See we do exist
Philippa and one of her poetry heroes, Karlo Mila
Philippa’s Friday Catchup
Philippa admiring artwork from Karlo Mila’s new book ‘Written on the Body’ (launched Friday 16th May)
It’s a poetry kinda day at R&W and there is lots of it. I loved “Who do You think You are” a session featuring 2 of my all time favourite poets, and focusing on identity. Karlo Mila is a NZ born poet of Tongan and Pakeha descent. She says there’s no polite language when speaking of “mixed” decent. Her new book “Written on the Body” was launched here at the festival and is a beautiful, sensuous, work of art – rather like the poet herself!! Check out the photo of one of the artworks that feature in the book. Happily Karlo is living in P.Nth, and so we will see her performing at the Library in the near future!!! Tusiata Avia is of Samoan Palangi descent and a stunning performance poet (whom we also saw at Poetry Idol held at the London Bar). She is often confused with other Pacific Island writers she says, and joked “we are all just one big amorphous Polynesian writer”! To Samoans she is Palangi, to Palangi she is a Samoan. Identity is a shifting thing…..The third writer at this session was Kapka Kassabova – a Bulgarian Born NZer, now living in the UK. Kapka says she was born in Bulgaria but is not Bulgarian…..and “where you come from is not who you are”.
Poetry Idol
Everything it was cracked up to be – 200 people all queueing to get into a poetry event at a bar in downtown Auckland.Hardly need to say more…….It was insane and heaven all at once. 10 amazingly talented performance poets all competing for the ultimate title of poetry idol (plus $300 prize money) and 3 star judges – Tusiata Avia, King Kapisi and Heather O’Neill. Loud, dramatic, fabulous…..we will definitely be coming back home to explore how we can have something like this going on in Palmerston North.
Rebecca waiting on her oversized chair at the Aotea Centre
