Mindfood Magazine Publications

POEM OF THE MONTH

Published in Mindfood Magazine Jan 2025

THE PALMERSTON NORTH

CITY LIBRARY

This building we have

stands half historic

Neo-Classical

Chicagoesque

Once c.m Ross Co. Ltd,

Then Milne Chose,

DIC

and Arthur Barnett

Now it has

modern trustworthy elements:

it is 6498 square metres,

with four levels; 

The furniture is Wobby

Dobby throughout,

Within the programmes

are well organised.

with cultural aesthetics:

A young person pony-

pranced sideways from

a lift. past other patrons.

She balances a

huge load of books

on her arm. Sugar

toast soles help her

hold balance and

equilibrium 

A small gaggle of

kids follow her to

the mezzanine door to

leave the building.

All are dressed in

eclectic clothing

The ongoing shifts of

items are innovative;

with busy assemblage;

Touch erudite,

curious minds,

or bright retinas,

A young girl glides

up the the stairs,

dressed in an

upscaled, dazzling

outfit paired with

pink high heels and 

wayfaring sunglasses;

She soon returns to

the issues desk with

Fashionista books 

The covers are

illustrated in

garish colours

Down at the front

door, an alarm bell

rings, The librarian

stresses out then smiles

The bell  turns out to be

another false hindrance.

James  Fagan

Palmerston North, NZ

Published in Mindfood Magazine March 2024

Most read poem of the year Mindfood 2024

The Old Napier Road Cemetery

( Palmerston North ) 

Late morning breezes stream over

murky undergrowth, 

where dismal looking cats and 

twirling things 

move in the wind.

Here, there has been the tilt and 

thrust of truncated pillars 

and archaic pedestals close to 

where Norman and 

Gothic headstones stand.

The sun descends on a Cupid that 

sits with  broken legs. 

Here, a tree-cutters tomb is etched 

with a 

forestry song.

A Rabbi was remembered for his 

alluring rituals by 

some, who now seek new things.  

Their senses are sometimes 

distracted by an 

aromatic smell, as they ponder wild 

gooseberries, high on a 

crude embankment. 

A man leans forward and seems to 

pull an unseen 

object from a space, then reads 

words on a stone

with a serious necessity.

A woman, who seems wrapped in 

resentment, walks 

up and down the grave-row paths, 

but is able to 

control her narrative; then 

wanders around 

like a displaced child. Here, people 

stand 

bereaved by a new plot; each looks

a little 

adrift. One has hands that shake 

involuntarily. Her voice is an 

octave lower than usual; 

it wobbles when she 

speaks. 

Then, at night, pranksters reel off 

drivel or throw rocks 

into trees over the fence, then look 

with inquiring 

glances at a sparkle in the night sky. 

Here, the moon grows slight above 

birds that are 

nourished while pecking insects 

from the 

cemetery lawn.

James Fagan

Palmerston North, NZ