Khaki tunics, riding trousers, leggings,
tents and bugles: I lie up here on the ridge
over Newton Park. Cabbies offer their horses
and a vet. checks them. He looks into the mouth,
waves a handkerchief at one eye, then at the other,
puts a rider up. Mostly they fail at the jumps.
At yesterday’s rally Mr King Dick Seddon made
a speech about the Empire. We all cheered madly.
The Otaki Band, St Patrick’s College Band,
the Garrison Band, Wellington College cadets,
the Fire Brigade, the Police Outriders and Cyclists –
all marched. The crowd sang ‘Soldiers of the Queen’.
In the book I’m reading the bugler is a boy,
but that was long ago. My brother’s mount
is a chestnut mare. He lets me hold his revolver.
My sisters have joined the Company of Amazons.
On our map of South Africa mother moves red pins.
I play ‘Bash the Boers’ along Tinakori Road.