BARRY SOUTHAM lives in Christchurch and is the author of four books of poetry/short stories, the most recent being Footprints on a Gravel Road. He is also an occasional television actor and playwright, whose work has been produced both locally and overseas.


       Wind in her Hair

       A flawless beauty, she saw only

       phantom defects gazing back

       from her gold framed mirror.

       She knew nothing of her married

       lover’s great fear of other men

       stealing away his treasure

       or why he isolated her

       in a country cottage with no car.

       She knew only that she was lonely

       between visits when he would

       confetti shower her with presents.

       But his horse gift proved Trojan.

       She joined the local hunt club

       was last seen galloping over

       Waikato Green, accompanied by

       a younger blade with Viking hair

       lusting eye and time to spend.

       The four wheel drive returned

       to town, perfume and necklace

       still sitting on the passenger seat

       beside a dozen blood-red roses

       their heads already nodding.