i am delighted to have been invited to participate in the NINE interview series – the brainchild of the lovely liz who I had the pleasure of meeting at squam last september.

you can see my answers to her beautiful questions here.

to celebrate this lovely interview, i would like to offer all my readers a giveaway:
the chance to get yourself (or a friend, if you already have a copy) the recently published book of photos & poetry all of a sudden…

to enter, simply leave me a comment giving me your answer to liz’s question #2.
you can use words; or leave a link to an image, or a story, or a song, or a blog post, or…. let your imagination run wild!

1. entries are open to everyone, so tell your friends
2. winner will be drawn at random on monday 3rd may and notified by email

arohanui (big love) to you wherever you are and whatever you love.

-leonie

we have guests coming on friday. i’m going
to have to put a sign up outside the front door
“beware the plants” or something like that.
and at this rate, i’ll be able to set up a stall
outside our flat, with an honesty box -
flowers for sale: 50p a bunch.
come back tomorrow, there’ll be more!

i’m half expecting to arrive home today
to find my husband clasped in the arms
of an affectionate nasturtium, or
wedged beneath the rowan bush.
i’ve no idea if the neighbours are having issues
they always take pains to avoid us.
have i got twigs in my hair again?

i sold out of the first print run (20 copies) in three days.

THREE. DAYS.

i am humbled. flabbergasted. spinning.

and just a little worried. whatiftheydon’tlikeitwhenitturnsup?

and… for anyone who would still like to buy a copy – or 2 or 3…. – i have listed another 20 in my etsy store.

from my cracked-wide-open heart to all of yours, thanks just doesn’t seem big enough.

arohanui
x

it’s not a desire to be noticed;
all this visibility often makes me want to hide, sneak away
and pretend it’s someone else that does this.

it’s not about what you think of it,
though i’m glad if it speaks to you, or if you recognise
some of your life in the words.

it is about the overwhelming urge to write, write, write
thoughts scamper about, teasing my pen, mocking my hand
for not being able to keep up.

it’s about the feeling of expressing in short form
a feeling, a snapshot,
a life being lived outside of the page.

© 2010. leonie wise

please stay though, just don’t fucking touch me
whatever i’m feelin’ is likely to discharge
giving us both a shock and breakin’ my concentration
just sit there okay? hold me. but only with your eyes & heart
and not in any kinda physical way.

and don’t say you understand. because how could you?
you’re not me. like i’m not you, so kick me if i ever say
“oh honey, i know how you feel” because how can i?
you have your shit. i have mine. we connect. but our shit doesn’t overlap…

yeah, it might seem like the same shit sometimes (and possibly it is)
but thinking one of us can fix the other is so totally bullshit and all ego.
i can’t fix you any more than you can fix me.
and what if it’s not something that needs fixin’ anyway?

so yeah, stay. i’m just workin’ through my stuff.
it might not look pretty from the outside
but trust me, it makes everything better
and more beautiful. i just have to live through it.

© 2010 leonie wise

my first collection of poetry is finished and available for purchase.

am i surprised? more than you could ever know…

now, i’m off to celebrate with a nice cold glass of new zealand pinot gris

haiku(ish) fun
he’s won all the toys
but got no-one to play with
hollow victory

a pair of lovely shoes. left outside by a wheelie bin, hackney.

tea & cake. an excellent combination

lovely sugar lumps

food & travel (& photography). three of my loves.

tea rooms, stoke newington. quite good actually. polaroid sx-70, 600 film (i think)

okay, your turn…
what’s your name today?
what can i call you…?