published in Volume 2, Issue 5 on November 8th, 1995Listen to Richard Todd read his poem, Tuki Mila Pahi.
we gather shellfish edges of knives cracked to scrappers of flesh and hair whetted like teeth to cut water beneath our hands to peel skin we gather shellfish rooting muck with bare feet touching the dark flat curves foot to fleshy foot and string mother of pearl in pendants we gather shellfish the old way between fast and slow rivers in warm water deep with hair thick as milk we grope mud and gather shellfish blades to pry lock and twist binding muscle to scrape clean the end of flesh and dress bones in new skins