An Encounter
You are living in a tent in Upper Hutt
You say you have never stolen anything in your life
You enter Wellington’s CBD
You are shocked at the price of everything
You need another sleeping bag
You say you are starving
You are heading to WINZ(MSD)
To apply for a food grant
You say you are from the South Island-from Invercargill
I share what little I have with you
You bless me and shake my hand
I am the one who was blessed by the encounter
You carry on across the road
Chatting to a beggar sitting in a doorway
And greeting another random stranger that you encounter
You are a breath of life on a winter’s day
Taking on the city and adversity with panache
Go well my friend
Margaret Jeune (nee Webb). I am a retired preschool teacher, poet, photographer, gardener and environmentalist. I have three adult children and seven grandchildren. I have recently moved from Wellington to Lower Hutt. I have written poetry since my childhood. My early poetry was published on the Children’s Page of the Evening Post under my maiden name Margaret Webb. A number of books of my poetry have been published by headworX and The Night Press. My poetry has also been included in Titirangi Poets ezines and anthologies. Recently I have read some poems on The Hutt Zone programme of Access Radio.
