Hinemoana Baker

1968 / Christchurch

Tinkerbell

My name is Tinkerbell, my jaws strong as
a crocodile. I see you turn from black
to white in the sun of the morning. I am seen

as at the end of a tunnel running towards you.
At least it would be running if my limbs
were not asunder and this were not

thin air. I don't meant to hurt you, I simply
do, out of size. You sing songs into my ear
they calm me for a dizzy moment. You point to

the sun, I turn from black to white inside
my own limbs. Who makes this howl, whose
hind quarters drag like a bag of ocoal?

A blue stare off into space, another howl.
The quick hiss of tyres over where I was.
Oh the figurine I must have made,

the black body flung in the air, the heartbeat
swimming to catch up. Tell me I am a gorgeous
girl. Magnificent as a human being, wagons

of onlookers. What will become of my needle
teeth? Tinkerbell, you say, Tinkerbell
all will be well and all manner of things will be well.
111 Total read