Barbara Strang was born in Invercargill. Her home is on the Port Hills, Christchurch. Her second poetry collection “The Corrosion Zone” has just appeared. In 1989-90 she lived in Bristol UK and first became aware of homeless people
Childish Questions
It’s spring and again
the man with matted hair is
striding up Whiteladies Road
among the well-heeled shoppers.
“Why is he always here?”
Down by the stones of Bristol Bridge
a sunbrowned woman passes,
wearing a black frock
and black feet to match.
“How did they get like that?”
By the Horsemarket
a wasted youth lifts
a can from a bin,
puts it to his mouth.
“Is he really drinking that?”
