Book Excerpts
The Bush Larrikin, is a poem selected from A Poetic Journey through Aotearoa.
Redefining Adventures is an excerpt from an earlier title, Going AWOL.
Follow the links below to learn more about each book.
The Bush Larrikin
Before we see his blue-green satin drag,
and watch him, fancy acrobat, swing on a limb
to sample a kōwhai, we hear his trill.
Beware: it’s easy to be fooled by this bush larrikin,
his repertoire of korimako and kererū variations.
But this is him, white tufts at his neck.
Resuscitated pōhutukawa forest,
this stretch of Tiritiri Matangi is a paradise of song.
Forty years of love it took
to regrow food and shelter for these birds
And see off pests. This island, mother now
to sanctuaries across Aotearoa.
Tui image: Steven Vaughan - Poem: Mary Somervell
Redefining Adventures
It is a state of mind, a spirit of trying something new and leaving your comfort zone. Adventure is about enthusiasm, ambition, open-mindedness and curiosity. – Alastair Humphreys
Adventure is all about attitude. It’s about trying something new or doing something differently than before. Leaving your comfort zone. Facing your fears. Choosing to walk an unknown path.
So let’s think beyond ‘big’ adventures – climbing mountains, sailing across oceans, walking the Te Araroa Trail or cruising to Antarctica, which might happen once in a lifetime (with a bit of luck and some good planning).
As well, we can rediscover mini adventures to go on more often – visiting nearby rivers, watching magical sunsets, climbing nearby hills, sleeping under the stars, or cycling to unfamiliar places.
With minimal planning, we can leave the safe and familiar and go on adventures nearer to home – having fun, pushing the boundaries, exploring less familiar paths, and experiencing different cultures and cuisines.
When we open ourselves up to new experiences and new ideas, we discover more about what we are capable of and add wonderful new memories to our adventure treasure chest.
