Tree Bare tree, You are like a thin, bony man You are weak and thin, All alone, Poor sick old man. Anon.

Death Dark. Everlasting blackness. Feelingless … Unaware of surroundings, Unaware of the crying, Unaware of the thumping dirt like a cloudburst tumbling on tin roofs. Then light— Entering Heaven? Maybe Hell. Frank Waa

Creek Reflections, shapes, colours … An art gallery. Slimy weeds, like eels, moving and swaying as if dancing to a tune. Rankin Marsh

Death Wailing of apes. Breaking of branches, As, like a flood, they come. Cries of monkeys— Swinging wildly from limb to limb … Then, suddenly, as if hit by a bomb The animals are silent. Slowly, Thumping his chest like a boxer, The Conqueror comes forward to be crowned King of all apes. Fred Broughton

Tree Like a lonely stork Against the moonlight sky With its branches erect Like an eerie hand poking the starry sky It shadows itself on the sinister ground And stands there, Forever. Marara Pou

Cold Standing stiffly against the stone wall, Teeth chattering, bones rattling. Watching the clouds rush by, As the rain teems down. Whispering whistles round the corners. Kathleen Solomon

Rain A pencil tap on a book. It jumps on your head. It rolls down your nose —like a fly tickling your leg. Laurence Reihana And now a poem from Richard Te Haara, of St. Stephen's College, Auckland.

The Sea The sea of motion and rhythm, The sea moaning, roaring, thunderous The sea, ever whispering, never ceasing, never dying, long living, So immortal, ‘Onward o mighty waters, carry the spirits of our Tipuna back to their homeland.’

SUBSCRIPTIONS TO TE AO HOU Are only 75c for one year $2 for three years WHY NOT MAKE SURE OF GETTING YOUR COPIES? Send a cheque or postal note today to — The Editor, P.O. Box 2390, Wellington (These subscription rates apply in N.Z For overseas rates, see contents page).