AIRPORTS, and other wasted days by Kevin Ireland Hazard Press NZ$25

Kevin Ireland, in his 16th book of poems, takes a poke at that most unpopular but unavoidable place, the airport.

Ireland is of course much published, and is one of New Zealand’s best-known writers. His poetry and fiction, his non-fiction and memoir have won him many awards and accolades over the years as well as a legion of fans.
He is something of a philosopher I guess, but his philosophy tends to be well-laced with humourous observation, often of the irreverent kind.

The first 11 poems in this latest anthology are about airports, and the trials they present to travellers, while the poems in the second, larger part of the book come under the catch-all heading of Home Again.
And there are some real gems including one called A Literary Confession.
Kevin, as well as being much published also dabbles in paints as we read in this poem:

A Literary Confession

The trouble with oil paints is the godawful mess they make.
They get everywhere: all over the floor,
On your clothes, under your nails
And even in your hair.

Paints are greasy and gluey,
And even though they are great
To muck about with, they’re not nice
To sit down on, or leave on door handles,
And they’re nasty to masticate.

Words are a different matter.
Ever since carbon-paper disappeared,
Writing has been a clean business.
Our letters keep to alphabetical order
And they never snag in your beard.

Notice how, after a few strokes of the brush,
You need scrubbing, whereas after a poem,
You’re still perfectly spic and span-
Painting is obviously for rough diamonds,
And writing is for gentlefolks.

There is only this curious literary problem
Of where the smells keep coming from.
And the sordid bloodstains on the carpet.
And the sinister laughter. Sometimes, after
A bout of writing, I don’t feel at all well.

There are also two poetic tributes to the late Michael King, and inevitably a poem about one of his most favoured pastimes, fishing, A Line Upon The Waters.

The Evans cartoon on the cover depicting Ireland leaning on a glass of red wine is perfect!