Kia ora, and thank you for visiting my site.
I am hoping that you enjoy finding out more about my poetry and short stories. As is the custom in Aotearoa New Zealand, I need to tell you a little about myself.
My childhood was spent in outback Queensland (Australia). Memories of the dust and isolation endure. Growing up poor gave me a unique perspective on life, and a strong belief that a good education is essential. My father was intelligent and a capable learner, but as the eldest son of a farmer was sent to work in lieu of gaining a higher education. My mother trained as a nurse, profession that she used to supplement our household income and pay for the education of myself and my two sisters. I am lucky that after university I was able to start my working life without a level of student debt that was not crippling.
I am not nostalgic about my growing up years. I never felt any natural fit with rural life or the land. I spent most of my childhood feeling like I was a second or two out of sync with the world. That was until 11.30am on 12 July 2005. I was crawling through a gap in the ice on Franz Josef Glacier on the West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island. I could see ancient forest on one side and blue flashes in the ice on the other. I felt a calling to home my spirit could not ignore. Six months later I had left Brisbane behind, and started my new life in Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand.
In mid-2006 I moved to Wellington. I am married, have two beautiful cats, and am living the suburban dream with room to grow flowers and vegetables. During the day I am a humble public servant, like the majority of Wellingtonians. In my spare time I write.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the decisive New Zealand response I had more time to think and write. My wife’s encouragement to share my work has led me to become a semi-regular at poetry readings and to compile my first collection of poems (Harbour).
This blog is another way for me to engage with fans of poetry, short stories and random musings. It won’t always be easy reading, but it will always come from my heart.
Angele Toomey Poetry 