I thought hard about publishing this. There’s been enough of a media circus around the publishing of a deeply offensive cartoon already. But this situation is too close to home. I’ve written for this newspaper and know that the journalists and other staff are deeply upset. The cartoon published by the Otago Daily Times was wrong on every level. This is my response. It’s a bit angry, a bit satirical, but mostly it is just sad that suffering people have been hurt even more.

Phoning It In

I’m phoning this one in from the Deep South,

last stop before the road runs out,

the land where time stood still, ran backwards,

dripping a slimy thick shake of shame.

I’m phoning this one in from Dunners, Dun Vegas,

Dudsville, where dunderheads hit bum notes 

and sing from the same sheet of dunny paper

in fifty shades of Persil automatic whiteness.

I’m phoning this one in via Jurassic Park  

where carbuncled has beens clap themselves on the back

for their stand against Political Correctness

and snowflakes who are looking to be offended.

I’m phoning this one in for the sniggerers,

the gigglers, the harden up get over itters,

while lifeless children are lowered into graves

before their parents disbelieving eyes.

I’m phoning this one in from Pig Island, 

South Polynesia, downtown Ōtepoti, Dunedin 9054, 

where someone forgot to send the memo

that the natives have feelings too.

I’m phoning this one in from the edge of the map,

the eternal Pacific blue that embraces us,

and joins us together, sea people, island people,

so one day we may see into each other’s hearts.

O Samoa, from this small place,

for your pain and grief and sorrow

we send our love and ask for forgiveness

Fa’amālūlū atu