issue 3
october 2015
Percussion - Alison Robertson
My Chinese neighbour plays a mean marimba
like sunlight shafting through trees
woody and bright
a giant xylophone
down in his basement with his mallet
hitting the smooth wood, making sweet sounds
when he should be in a concert hall bowing
to loud applause.
Percussion is my life he says
in his shabby English
But no orchestra here seem
to want me.
Contributor's Note
Alison Robertson is part of the Communications team at University of Waikato. She was a sports reporter for Radio New Zealand in the ‘80s, has edited a community newspaper in Porirua, written three children’s novels and several short stories and until now has never had the courage to publish any poetry.