Marissa Johnpillai comes from here and there and goes anywhere, but her vegetables are planted in Aotearoa New Zealand. She has studied and taught creative writing and has been published in newspapers, magazines and journals in New Zealand, Australia, Sri Lanka and the UK. She recently
completed an MA in Creative Writing at Victoria University of Wellington. She has written several novels but they all look like poems.
the secret is
the sky
is water
it seeps
at every
crease of her, each
ever-green brush kept
moist
& yes
the sun may chill,
may break her in
to a cold sweat
& yes
the children squeeze
inquisite knees and
elbows tween the sheets
you're quiet like a daughter
with her finger in the cake
under covers ranginui
draws her thunder
to ventriloquy
when you come to know what happened, but not why
for akina
1
awkward
in a mesh
pink dress
a kink of candyfloss
walking jellyfeet
one foot
then one foot
fits into the hollow
of a palm
one hand
clasps a finger
still
2
an empty canoe
is pushed across
a river
bed to bed
returns to sender
laden
in the ear of
the beholder:
love.
3
many warm lips
on your cheek
akina
your ringlets
