BY OLIVIA KINGI, YEAR 10, AVONSIDE GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL
1, 1958
The man barks
hurry up, you’re late
The woman irons
his grey flannel shirt
The man works,
his office filled with suited men
The woman dusts,
his home with her grey feathers
The man celebrates,
the stench of cigars fills the pub
The woman stays home,
the screeches of children hang in the air
1, 2018
The man works
from home, with the children
The woman works,
her office crowded with suited people
The man asks
did you have a good day?
The woman replies
yes, but I’m glad to be home
This poem is a part of the Beca Christchurch Heritage Festival series, for those pieces of writing created in the workshops sponsored by the Christchurch Heritage Festival and Tūranga.
© Write On: School for Young Writers and the writer, 2019