Waikawa Beach

By Chris Girven

Dad is picking up shells for the garden 

Mum is sitting and watching 

Ben is washing his hands in the water 

So particularly 

He is small against the sky 

I take a photo of him 

He pulls out his phone and 

Takes a photo of me 

The sea is charcoal black 

It froths like a rabid dog 

Tearing at the Jasper sand 

Tripping over itself 

Turning its face to mine

Again 

And again

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Chris Girven (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Te Wairoa) lives in Te Whanganui-a-Tara. They are takatāpui and study acting at Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School. They love to write poetry, dress up, go to the Vinnies, and dance around their room.