Southerly by David Haywood

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Southerly: Swans

4 Responses

  • Ann Sanderson,

    Hi David,

    Just writing to tell you how moved I was by this piece (tears streaming down my face). It reads like poetry.

    Thanks,
    Ann

    Palmerston North • Since Jul 2008 • 1 posts Report

  • David Haywood,

    Glad you liked it, Ann (if 'like' is the right word). It was written a decade or so back, and I just thought I'd post it at the same time as 'The Moon and McNulty', partly to answer this request from Kyle Matthews.

    I hasten to add that there's a large dose of poetic licence in it. The story was based partly on a conversation with my grandfather a few days before he died, but also on something told me by a friend, and a dream I had following my grandfather's death. Although I think, in some ways, it does capture the (at times) contradictory nature of his personality.

    I should perhaps also add that I don't personally believe in anything supernatural.

    Dunsandel • Since Nov 2006 • 1156 posts Report

  • Kyle Matthews,

    Glad you liked it, Ann (if 'like' is the right word). It was written a decade or so back, and I just thought I'd post it at the same time as 'The Moon and McNulty', partly to answer this request from Kyle Matthews

    My first and last piece of work as a 'publisher', and I use the word liberally.

    Again, very nicely written.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

  • Islander,

    You're a makar David - whether real, poetic licence, or gathering together of thread, the thing works.

    I'm an atheist and a nonbeliever in supernatural stuff. So was my uncle Bill. My mother was at his deathbed
    (in hospital aue) and says, just before he died, he opened his eyes wide, smiled, and whispered happily "Mum's here!"

    Whether that was an hallucination or not - who cares?

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report

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