Before Waitangi day 2007

Exisiting in
the time before the news,
about how Maori can't fly their flag
on the Harbour Bridge tomorrow,
Waitangi day.
A red car stopping outside,
someone dumping rubbish,
hand half heartedly in pants,
stroking dry lips,
but no wettening,
nothing.
No wine to get happy on,
cars already cleaned,
bin emptied,
no cigarettes,
non smoker,
toenails cut,
texts sent,
baked beans, milk, and salad pooling together,
hand giving up after a good attempt.
The time before the news
is full of feeble, blunt pencils and grey wind
and rolled up Maori flags
and not much else.