burke: Wellington Despatch #35

Wellington, NZ, I'm just not used
to walking up hills! My heart

has to grow extra muscles
as we pound the pavement

past such rare architecture:
circular bee hive, the government

building built in wood
without a nail or screw ...

Each town has its own mix
of parking laws and buses and trams ...

The people walk by in the street
just like Australian citizens

but their accents are so different!
Each vowel is elongated or

shortened: chips become chups,
six becomes sex and Ben becomes Bin.

I smile, and a smile is just the same.
Lights twinkle in Wellington Bay

and the fairy lights of the ferry pass by
as it travels to the South Island.

We shall fly there in following days
and report back ... But now, sleep.