You can’t always trust feelings

They tell you some things but not necessarily

The full story

They’re polluted by our history

Our bruises

Our regrets and mis-steps

Our minds sometimes get things twisted

Untangle the mess of my mind

Help me to find

Shalom

SONYA COSSEY CREATIVE

Everything about a Mama is a miracle

The way the embryo forms 

The physical body grows

Stretching, 

Making,

Space for someone new 

The birthing process 

Horrific and beautiful

Feeding, 

Needing,

Baby fully dependent  

On mum’s body

To sustain theirs 

Constant self-sacrifice 

Pouring 

Into that brand new little life 

Sleepless nights 

Tired eyes 

Strength and fight 

Incomparable love 

Everything about a Mama is a miracle

SONYA COSSEY CREATIVE

Many a poet

Came out tonight

To delight

In the coming together of words

Some were well-versed

Others shared for the first time

Encouraged to write

Given opportunity to share

Laid their hearts bare

Left a relatable sensation in the air

We heard about fear

Grief, love, burn-out, revolution

We laughed and drank and enjoyed conversation

Artists were celebrated

All were included

We felt freedom and hope

In just being human

SONYA COSSEY CREATIVE

The people of my race 

Did hard damage in this place

They raped, pillaged, stole and killed

They filled Māori with hurt and hate

And failed to demonstrate

The love that they claimed

Some settlers had hearts of gold

But others were brutally cold

Those stories haven’t really been told

Just hidden in the folds 

of history

We must share 

The reality of what brought us here

We must advocate for peace,

Justice and what is fair

We must repent and replace

The hate for love

May there be hope for our children

And grandchildren

To live in Aotearoa 

Without racism

SONYA COSSEY CREATIVE

My darling is home! 

After sleeping alone for 13 nights 

I’m in pure delight 

To have my man back in my arms 

My head rests

Against his chest 

Breathing with his breath 

I feel whole again 

SONYA COSSEY CREATIVE

In Mahara Place today 

I saw three very dressed up, very attractive couples 

In Mahara Place today 

I saw two little girls become instantaneous friends 

In Mahara Place today 

I saw elderly folk lining up to withdraw cash from the ATM 

In Mahara Place today 

I saw a yellow-haired artist sing her original songs 

In Mahara Place today 

I saw a grandma get on a see-saw and make her grandchild giggle

In Mahara Place today 

I saw life happening, young and old, casual and fancy, full and free 

In Mahara Place today 

I could not see, the depth of what is happening underneath 

In Mahara Place today 

I could not see what people were feeling or thinking 

In Mahara Place today 

I could not see the struggles and challenges each person faces

In Mahara Place today 

I could not see the complex and beautiful layers of story 

In Mahara Place today 

I could not see the hopes, expectations, disappointments and questions

In Mahara Place today 

I could not see, but still believe, in the Spiritual depth of those peoples’ humanity

SONYA COSSEY CREATIVE

I enjoy this life that I lead

It’s one of fluidity and creativity

But what I do miss

Is seeing instant results

In other jobs

You complete tasks and when they’re done

You get a certain sense of satisfaction

You see the pay-off for your input

Right away

But as a poet 

It can be days

Weeks, months, years

Between writing, publishing,

Performance, cheers

Before pay-out and appreciation

You work in secret 

Putting pen to paper

Typing words on a screen 

And only sometimes the work gets seen

You must pat yourself on the back 

As there is no boss or co-worker to do that

You are your own motivator

Passion and calling the drive

You do it because without your art 

You don’t fully feel alive

And that’s why

On the days when I’d rather be 

In a nine to five

I remind myself, in that environment

I could never thrive

It wouldn’t truly satisfy 

So I 

Implore my fellow writers

To stay the course, remember your why

Don’t give up on your Darlings

When you’re exhausted

Just have a cry 

Let it out 

Then move forward

Carry on my friend

There are treasures in your letters

Gifts in your pen

SONYA COSSEY CREATIVE

My French press coffee has been on to brew 

I wait for a few 

minutes 

Then pour it into my Chelsea Winter gold-flecks mug

As I do 

The milk which has aged

Turns from smooth white liquid 

Into blotches of curdled cream

Usually this would mean

I’ll tip it down the sink

I’ll go and buy a $5.50 takeaway 

From the cart near the laundromat 

Spending more on a single cup of caffeine

Than the whole bottle of milk costed me 

But today there’s a saving grace

In a gifted bottle of oat milk 

It has a different-to-dairy taste 

But I’ll take it 

I place

My coffee 

On my Aotearoa laser cut coaster,

I continue my routine 

And use it for inspiration to type out a poem 

On my MacBook screen 

SONYA COSSEY CREATIVE

Have you ever read a weather forecast and 

Totally ignored it?

Thinking it’ll be fine,

You pack your tent and camping chairs

Setting out for a great time

But it turns out that 

The weather people were right 

You spend the night 

In torrential rain

But the bands are worth it 

So you and your mates

Try not to complain

You settle in to make the best of it anyway

The very next day 

You’re packing again

Because the Festival organisers 

Have to send

You home 

It feels like the trip finished

Before it began

Though you’re disappointed with the early end

You still have stories to tell,

Shared memories with friends

SONYA COSSEY CREATIVE

I felt disappointed in myself yesterday 

Returning back to hours on my phone 

Dragged in by useless videos 

Wasting time on my own 

I tossed and I turned

Rolling over on the bed

The sheets kicked off 

A mosquito bite irritating me to no end 

I miss my husband 

Thoughts filled too high 

Because of the time
Spent watching videos online

My mind spinning from a sense of failure 

For wasting my life

It’s a new day 

With new mercy 

Another chance 

Fresh opportunity

SONYA COSSEY CREATIVE