by Christopher Ruthe
Oh happy day
Oh happy day
That Edward stole my heart away.
A septuagenarian (called Septo For the purposes of this poem).
Looking youthful for his age
And with a glint in his eye
Espied me
As I laid bored in a box
With nephews nieces brothers sisters
All iridescent yellow balls.
Not just any balls
But tennis balls.
So large
We were for giants really.
And of us all, Septo
Picked me.
Lifting me gently out
He paid a lady to set me free
From the box in the store.
I rode in the front seat of Septo’s car
So smooth the ride.
So lucky not to be
Dumped in the truck.
Once home I knew That something special
Was about to be.
I shook my coat
So I really shined.
Then I was sensitively wrapped
In non colonial wrapping
To make me full of well-being.
(Septo told me his friend Jacinda told him it was so).
A while later
I heard a scratching
And a pulling
And out I burst of my well being wrap.
To see a young lad
Who introduced himself as Edward.
Having spent months
At Labour Parties
(Not Birthday parties)
I came to love the name of Edward.
And I knew the joy of fondling
The high spirited bouncing
The balancing
And even the little kicking.
And Edward said he loved me
So.
I was a happy happy ball
Maxed out on well-being
Jacinda, Septo’s friend’s, favourite phrase.
Then Edward was called in.
Suddenly the balancing and bouncing stopped.
All was silent.
Where had my lovely Edward gone?
I heard from inside the house
Laughter and cheers
A jolly good time
Being had by all.
And where was I?
The former belle of the ball?
Stuck in a garden.
Sitting in blood and bone
And coffee grinds
And sheep poo pellets.
Forsaken.
Forgotten.
Like at a Labour Party
My well-being
No longer important.
And as the rain comes down
As the gale screams
As a kindly ball I still say
Happy Birthday
To my Edward.
Will you remember my well-being.
And not the Party’s?
“This poem was inspired in part by He Ara Oranga: Report of the Government Inquiry into Mental Health and Addiction [2018]. It blames colonialization for mental health illness, promises prevention of mental health issues and sets out the formula for permanent well-being in NZ.
“It is also a story of the child’s response to a gift in the 21st century, raising the question of what is genuine ‘well-being’.”
Waikanae Watch 