JOSEPH TAMBURE

Hello Keith - Longpla taim mi no rait. Bikpla Papa
God iken lukautim yu. God Bless - Joseph Tambure

Money has roots
It spreads out under cover
Money has a trunk
It's strong and sturdy

MICHAEL DOM

For Sola Gracia

This morning, I heard my mother singing hymns in her bedroom
And I can’t remember a day growing up
When her sometimes slightly off-kilter melody
Was not, for me, the joyous sound-track of dawn

Her faithful reverence filled those spaces in my life
That I may otherwise have silently ignored
Those uninhabited moments were somehow so full
And I know that one day I shall wish them full again.

Lae, 7 August 2024

MARIAN DAI

Heartache lingers (Generated by AI, June 25 2024)

I've watched old women cry
at the mention of twins.
And never understood the heartache
caused at mere mention of this.
But...
Now I do.
Heartache of losing a dear one lingers.

There are times I sit and ponder that emotion
and again the realisation creeps up on me
I too bear those same deep feelings.
My first heartbreak came when my sister died.
Grief is a constant tug of war
between trying to move forward
and not wanting to at all.
Grief is the Courage to feel loss.

KENNETH MIAMBA
| Ples Singsing

Papuan infantry on parade,  World War II (Australian War Memorial)

In New Guinea's wild, where jungles breathe,
A tale of courage, weaved beneath the trees.
Papuan sons, with hearts so bold,
Stood as brothers, in tales untold.

Through dense green canopy, they tread,
Their spirits forged, their fears misled.
With every step, they held the line,
Bound by valour, their destinies entwined.

MICHAEL DOM

LAE – My latest poem, published online in August 2022 was titled ‘The Political Economy of a Pig Farmers Life, Chapter 2’.

Chapter 1 of the same title was produced by BBC Scotland as a poetry postcard for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

ALPHONSE HUVI

Every no has a better yes
It is now or never, I think
when any opportunity arises
So I try my best to go for it
Hoping for the better
Every no has a better yes

STEPHANIE ALOIS

Who can love me more than her?
Whose heart is of purest diamond
Whose love for me is too good
Whose love is second to God's
Oh my angel mother
You leave me speechless

Who can measure your gentle patience?
You are resilient and composed when handling crisis
You persevere in the face of extreme difficulty
You believe in me unceasingly
Oh my angel mother
You are sweeter than honey

STEPHANIE ALOIS

I loved him yet, why?
Remembering our time spent diving
Holding each other’s hand and kissing
Thought I was his only
But now I’m lonely
He is slipping away

I needed him yet, why?
Seeing us walking on a footpath
Enjoying each other’s company
Thought I saw him smile
But it was a fake smile
He is fading away

AG Satori, the grand old man of PNG poetry, has a favourite secluded place in the mountains where he goes to find inspiration to write (Image by Bing)

AG SATORI
| Noveba 2023

AG Satori’s poem in Goroka Tok Pisin dialect has been kindly translated into English by the great man for the enjoyment of all our readers - KJ

Stephanie Alois, Apoya, naispla meri Koloka ya, AG Satori tok sorre olsem em i no nap rait olsem yu or Maikol long raitim gutpela singsing lo sandin blo leva. Tasol em laik givim tok lukaut long yu long despela taim bihain taim leva bilong yu bai tru tru bruk.

MICHAEL DOM

Son, of all the things you could possibly
Become, do not, I say, do not ever
Become a poet, son. Let me list three
Reasons why, and hopefully when I am
Gone, you’ll understand my views. Here’s number
One. They smell of dog poop steaming in the
Sun. The pong hits your nose, and they call it
Song. Cruel bastards! Number two, they’re filthy
Bums, always begging for coins, licking their
Gums, to sweet-talk or befuddle you for
Fun. And three, they’re crooked as a hook and
Some. They’ll steal all your glory and when they’re
Done, the newspapers won’t know your name from
Tom. Dick, son, become a politician.

STEPHANIE ALOIS

Catch a glimpse of you in the rear view mirror
Your hazel eyes sparkling with happiness
Sets my heart on fire each time
Everything is becoming clearer
My longing for you grows stronger
You are the love that love made for me

STEPHANIE ALOIS

A loud bang shakes the walls around her
A deafening shot from the loudest gun
She hears the sound of her own footsteps
As she struggles crying towards the door
Then a mighty blow across her pretty face
A scream, a trip and her flowing blood

STEPHANIE ALOIS

Father departed when she wasn’t ready
But I’ve seen his soul in the way she carries herself
She does everything to get what she wants
And others call her greedy for that matter
But she is an ambitious one for sure
My sister is stubborn
But that’s because she cares too much