Versions Journal Publications

Version is a Journal Published by the Palmerston North City Library New Zealand

Versions 2025

   Central Park New York

 

Joggers jog, come running down a path while 

wearing non-stereotypical shades that sing 

of cool. They go past the place where Hal the 

coyote once slept. The outdoorsy look has 

resurfaced in the park and become the exciting 

new grunge among the park kids. Some visit the 

memorial mosaic of the song Imagine 

commemorating when John Lennon lived in 

Manhattan. Others play frisbee on the sheep's 

meadow. People walk the Jacqueline Kennedy 

Onassis Reservoir track that encircles a 106 acre 

body of water. This is where Bill Clinton also 

found time to jog. A cab pulls over not far from 

71 and 77th Streets, the occupants have a picnic to 

share by the Central Park Lake. A fashionista 

comes walking along wearing the latest clothing. 

Then two woman walk along towards the 

Wolliman Scatting Rink. They look as though 

they are having their own fashion-party. Both 

are dressed to the nines in flouncy edged garb.            

After navigating the  Ramble muse three friends

enjoy refreshments at  Central Park Cafe. Visitors 

head towards the art museum wearing appealing 

jewels that are full of all the right zeal. There's 

a cute and kooky look walking with kids towards 

the Central Park Carousel. Then after many seasons 

neoliberal is another new image also coming into 

play. The signature mission in fashion is also 

promoting diversity. At the mall, a fashion show is 

now presenting an impressive array of treasures. 

Some have recalibrated ideas that failed to resonate 

in the past. Each presenter works with their own 

fashion ideas causing them to become more 

individualistic. By the Deracorte Theatre the 

scheme feels ideal as visitors gather outside 

waiting to enter and see a new recital. Most have an 

undeniable charm while being dressed in a confident 

fashion sense. Some confer with people who have 

been visiting the Central Park Zoo. Many work 

towards  wearing grand designs that are ahead of 

their time. By Belvedere Castle Information Center 

a girl flexes her creativity while enjoying her own 

exclusive love of make-up. Then across the park a 

young man coerces his lover towards a carriage ride. 

While the Central Park 22nd Police Precinct and the 

Rapid-Response Medical Team continue to be available

to help with emergences.

 Fashion Show  "Extraordinaire" 

The first exhibitor walk forward,

presenting strong poetic nuances. 

While the next chases the latest fashion 

grail as she move on stage with 

all-encompassing convictions.

The third girl has sunset 

green eyes and powder puff lips. 

She spins on the catwalk while 

exhibiting an unusual couture.

Then there's a glitzy looking girl in 

purple boots, which have a stoic 

bohemian look. She has a whip

thin, impeccable posture. 

A girl in a  yellow hip belt has a surreal 

coloured finery, Her epic outfit is studded 

in pearls. There's a scarf that finds beauty

when cascading from her shoulders.

Some sassy silk stockings groove to

pop music. After doing some intricate

stage moves, the model skulks

back through the entrance gap.

A small silhouette moves along

dressed in a Bo-Peep frivolous,

nursery rhyme frock. Her hair 

has a grand look that bobs in 

time to the music as her long 

strides eat up the catwalk.

Designers look optimistic as they avert

their eyes to the crowd, looking for

new and fresh reactions.

Then a young girl walks onto the stage.

Her blue velvet shoes have a bouncy,

progressive traction. She wears a

gown that has ivory seams. Some

Spanish pearls hang from her 

ears.

There's a young man in a pristine tuxedo

and a bespoke boy bag that matches his

skin. He walks with a confident

buoyance that sustains the day.

Versions 2024

Paratiho

For three days, 

I slept on the beach,

living on shellfish and bread baked

by the old Kuia who lived close by                               

in Mckays Cottage.

I watched refracted light

reflect from platformed shores,

as water birds flew to the tidal reaches

outside the lagoon, on the splash zone.

When the beach waters retreated, much of

the plankton from the sea lay ensconced

on rocks, but tussocked  grasslands on

distant dunes complimented mangroves,

with coloured blends of splendour.

A wild cat sometimes showed its presence,

then disappeared into green flax leaves,

where small fledglings squawked,

as birds fluttered over the black bush stems,

and fed off the nectar from the pink flowers.

This was paratiho  where patterned

clouds descended over distant horizons and

insects and minute spores lived, emerging in

beauty.

Versions   2024  

Christmas Eve on Sydney's

Waterfront    

We meet in the dark and feel high, 

knowing this is a niche place to be 

before midnight. Ex-lovers rekindle 

old relationships. The atmosphere is 

full of the ecstasy of happiness.

There are fairy lights for the 

Midnight Party held in the 

Northern Foyers of the Opera

House. The drinks, canapes and

entertainment are superb.

At a viewing space by the water 

front a group of fashionista woman

stand. Here the Opera House is all 

aglow revealing its shell shaped 

silhouette.

The Sydney Harbor Bridge is set 

further back. The night has a driving

intensity as people talk and drink

champagne or imbibe other 

delectables. Others tell their 

own enthralling stories while

wreathing convivial smiles. 

Soon a swarm of insects go by, 

where people have mastered the 

art of saying nothing when nothing 

is called for. Some have luminous 

skin or beach stressed locks.

Here, people strut their space. Some 

wear rigorous fashion with zeal or the

latest funky grunge wear. The quirky 

intelligence is spotted with epic 

accessories in a grand ethos. This 

is where some young people need to 

be seen to drown out their feelings, 

so as to feel more complete.

Cellphones from time to time chirp 

among the crowd. The owners do 

not settle for mediocrity but enjoy

the immutable fact that they are in 

one of the places that doubles their

glee. 

Voices are high and tight when

the crowd suddenly lets out a collective 

gasp. Here, they look off into middle 

distance, as the fireworks on the                 

Harbor Bridge allure, interest 

and ratchet the excitement 

up a notch, causing a royal ambience 

that gives off all manner of euphoria.

Versins 2024

Fashion on the street

She throws her head backwards

and bites down on a smile.                              

Causes a fashion commotion

as she struts across the tarmac. 

Close to where the Two Towers 

once stood. She wears a pair of 

collectible vintage shades. Seems 

streetwear suave, while having a 

cooler-than-anything attitude. 

Some wear street wear garb that 

is grunge but Big Apple smart. 

Rap royalty is at its best with 

oversized jumpers and many wear

much loved collaborations. The street 

people are always expressing fresh 

narratives and mixing them with pieces 

from past styles. Making big statements 

with vintage clothes and continue to be 

big hitters in the mixed fashion world.

Versions2023

Memorable Epoch

Drowsing by the pump house, sheep find shelter,

on a hillside above a whare kai, as youngsters ride

the river banks with legs aslither, on unsaddled

horses that are one-quarter draught.

Gumboots trample murky soil as small girls play with

wooden peg dolls in a pumpkin patch.

A man leans forward on a grubber by hawthorn   

     bushes,

where a branch does a twisty bend and then snaps 

under his feet. He looks at a chopper flying 

overhead, carrying rifles, shovels and other 

supplies. Soon it coasts to a more remote

location.

To the east, ā  Kaumātua taps his tokotoko below 

a tekoteko head, as he shares connections of

whakapapa in a detailed pōwhiri.

Further off a boy looks for his nanny, searching the 

grounds close to the marae-atea, death's shadow 

lies in front of the window of the meeting house.

At night where sacred hair lies tapu, exotic

creatures are heard, crying out while 

tamariki dream of ancestors on the 

wall in frames.

Versions 2023

Coastal Visit      

There are simply-shaped cribs that stand brightly 

     coloured; 

a few have paint that is fatigued and gaunt-looking, 

some are scattered in their own solitude.

Some men sit on steps by a boy who expresses 

     annoyance. 

Here a man slowly empties a flagon into a glass 

     handle. 

He appears old and weary looking. 

Small children play down on the sand. There are 

     Trucks, 

graders and sticks. Here, a stone is thrown across 

     water. 

The upper part of the beach is covered in shadows, 

where a homemade fire structure still stands. 

Here, a reflection from flames once glided 

and a cloud now causes a shade of 

darkness. 

Shells are scattered, giving off a unified glare; their 

sharp, upward shapes look dangerous to 

unprotected feet.

Across the bay, there are seabirds that coast slowly, 

in the recesses of cliff tops. The slow floating 

shapes, look like old men's kites.

Versions 2023

The  Unexpected  Onslaught 

In the hills, we drove down the staircase track.

The arduous route led us across two small bridges

     high

above a ravine.

A confluence of streams dispersed segments of

   spray that

penetrated the air. The main river then flowed

      parallel to

the track, before going off on another journey.

We could see a few sheep on the left bank that were

laden with huge amounts of wool. These must

have missed the straggle muster the driver said.

There was a water table under a bank. It was about

half a meter wide and had mostly dried up.

Once, the driver drove unthinkingly close to the

     precipice,

where the tyres argued simultaneously with the track,

before skidding back to a more sturdy location.

Further on, we could see people in rolling grassland,

dressed in tired brown, or green tunics that swamped

their size. Children played with long ropes, jumping

over them, or swinging them about.

Others played games that were unidentifiable. Four

men stood, slicing turf in a garden, as a woman

moved about, close to thatched huts.

On reaching the lowlands, we were flanked by cold

craggy mountains. 

The occupants of the region rushed over, pushing and

pulling at the Rover; they glared at us with

narrowed eyes.

Each of us gaped back, wincing, our torsoss hunched

up giving off stilted shudders.

Then, the Rover lurched forward, with spinning 

     wheels

that threw dirt backwards. The whole vehicle

rocked to the left and we spun around, returning 

to the direction of the track.

Each of let out a shaky breath as chaotic thoughts

rattled around in our heads. The driver had enough

grit in his voice to tell us he wouldn't be returning in a

hurry. He mouthed, wow , before his face went

blank. But then, he scrubbed a hand down his 

face to hide a smile. Thanks for the

clarification, said a voice full of

sarcasm. The person in the 

front passenger seat

snorted while glancing

from object to object

on the dash board

The idea of their solitude seemed slightly deranged,

were the only concluding word amongst us.

Versions 2022

On The Weekend

The Kids

slice through

the night, and walk in  stylish scrums

Where boys stand detached 

or talk of the game.

In the clubs the kids sip their drinks

holding form, silhouette and line,

their swish frivolity shrieks glamour

an entranced mystique.

The fluent fashion talk 

suggest cool. With a French-style bravado

and a cutting-edge chic.

There's an audible gasp

then a cry for help

where smoky styles

traffic taste;

the night is black, 

a cerebral dark,  

Where a girl in a small black dress,

whispers "kiss me."

Versions 2022

A Cat stalks at night

The tom cat streaks through mosaic

paths 

through hidden alleys and a 

creosoted shed

a tabby warlord lost in shadows

where fanciful gardens grow

A gnome stands indifferent, decrepit

as the tom creeps among the bugs

where festive flowers show their pride

and rodents squeak their call

There is no silence among the dew drops,

only nature's mystic cry;

where birds wake some who sleep

and a mouse will soon-on cat claws die

The tom- scabbed nose-sniffs the air,

with a feral, scraggy in a distant yard

he stands poised,

like his approaching cousin

then creeps closer with a direct stare

He makes no excuse for feeling wasted

but will fight,

living a life that is putrid

 Versions 2022       

Night Dance

You dance in Rock'n Roll glory

in dainty black shoes 

Smile and squeal from vibrant fun

You look for me , who stood watching

The music throbbed its growling beat

and supper wailed

The hall laughed with happy joy,

Full of spinning dancers

and children eating potato chips,

I watched you entertain your partners

Swirling and whirling or sipping

lemonade

While children danced a happy tap

or walked aimlessly in a dreamy haze.

   Versions 2022

   Nightlist

Lights go on before a book is read as the night 

sighs with a constant silence

An engine is heard from afar then settles to a stop

causing thoughts to focus on a Circus Train

from long

ago. The Art Deco Express has animals in rail

       trucks

each sensing their doom with words and a

short cry.

Lemon cake is sampled with tea. It liquefies the

      cake's

slightly sweetish taste. The icing has imprints

      that are

similar to farrows ploughed into a farmer's field.

A small flurry of wind blows, causing a bush to

       scrape

against the side of the house. Then a picture on the

shelf seems to stare at me. It is the one of a new 

grandchild, held by a small girl.

Versions 2023

State house revival 

Number 38 has shoes and sandals cluttering the front

 step, reflecting the absurdities of life within.

A homely kitchen is a place that ensures the

      survival of 

the most necessary tradition; where spices and herbs 

are used for their delectable properties.

The living area is engorged with luminous red      

     walls 

that have an ethereal glow about them. They look      

     futuristic. 

Here the lounge and dining room are integrated.

The lady of the house smiles at me, as she sits on        

     the sofa 

by an Italian dining table and a distressed cabinet that 

have a captivating charm. She watches Astar on 

morning television.

To the right, a sideboard shelves has tasteful Clarice Cliff 

and Devon china. Other aged oddities are scattered 

throughout the room, giving a link to a vanished 

era. The room is interesting and ambiguous, a 

place where rules don’t apply.

After Viv makes coffee, we look at the main bedroom.

It is a busy web of complexity, impregnated with 

curious bohemian possessions and other 

treasures from the past. But for me,

the aged brass bed captures my 

interest as it stands close to 

where small insects have

banged along the

window glass. 

The rooms further back in the house are curious.

Tonight the stars will wink through the 

windows while young people are 

protagonists of their dreams.