Hannah Turrell

Kia ora, hello.

 

Suburbs stretch in front of me, tītoki grows strong at my back. 

Redoubt Road coils along the ridgeline, from the first Maori footprint, through the land wars, to 60kph of traffic. 

The Manukau Harbour tosses and churns. 

I’m from South Auckland. 
 

I’m also from Papua New Guinea: 

In the little village of Telefomin 

Up a tree

With a book

Watching mist and cloud wreath Indonesian mountains in mystery. 

 

I’m also from Arnhemland

Fire-charred yams and soft singing on the beach 

Sand of place between my teeth

Ocean air of Galiwinku salt-sweet and free. 

 

I’m from Scotland. 

A land I’ve never been

Where my Nana played along the ruins of a Roman wall

And my Pop’s piping won him Inverness gold. 

 

I make new lands and people. 

Spin cultures, creatures and planets in my mind’s eye

What if? New technologies, alien worlds. 

I stitch them together with pen and paper,

Weave them as I type. 

 

I’d love to share them with you.