Poeme Pour Kevin. (Translation With Original) . Poem by Michael Walker

Poeme Pour Kevin. (Translation With Original) .

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Quand l'avocat pour la defense aux cachots
des flics
Voit du visage du client le reflet
du sien
C'est un moment de la liberte- donc, mon ami irlandais,
Je me tiens au vestibule parmi les uniformes
En tenant a la main une fleur hibiscus rouge-
La tige verte de la verite, cinq petales pour
les sens,
La corolle jaune qui est le rayonnement
de Dieu,
Et les etamines rouges de l'arohanui-
Et les murs se fendent, les portes s'ouvrent,
Et le vent souffle dedans- etre pauvre c'est
ma liberte,
Parce qu'aucun homme ne peut acheter ni mes actions ni
ma parole,
Cependant le poids de la liberte est un poids dur
a porter.
Hemi

-'Poem For Kevin'.James K. Baxter (1926-1972) .

Poem For Kevin.

When the defence lawyer in the dungeons of the fuzz
Sees from the face of the client his own face look back
It is a moment of freedom- so, my Irish friend,
I stand in the vestibule among the uniforms
Holding in my hand a red hibiscus flower-
The green stem of truth, five petals for the senses,
The yellow corolla that is the radiance of God,
And the red stamens of arohanui-
And the walls split, the doors open,
And the wind blows in- to be poor is my freedom,
Because no man can buy my actions or my speech,
Yet the weight of freedom is a hard weight to carry.

Hemi

- 'Poem For Kevin'.James K. Baxter(1926-1972) .

Arohanui= selfless love, compassion. Hemi= James.

Poeme Pour Kevin. (Translation With Original) .
Monday, April 22, 2019
Topic(s) of this poem: freedom,life
POET'S NOTES ABOUT THE POEM
Kevin Ryan (1931-2008)was a well-known defence lawyer in New Zealand in the recent past. He defended more than 100 murder trials. After he bought James K. Baxter some pies in Auckland's Kiwi Hotel, he asked James to write a poem, which he did on the spot. Kevin Ryan notes that, 'There are lines in it which reveal my innermost thoughts although I had never expressed them. That, to me, shows the genius of James K. Baxter'. Kevin Ryan adds that this poem 'is one of the possessions I treasure'. As far as I know, t he poem has never been published anywhere but in Kevin's book 'Justice Without Fear or Favour', p.224.
It is intriguing to me that Baxter's idea that 'the weight of freedom is a hard weight to carry' applies also to Kevin Ryan. So does 'no
man can buy my actions or my speech'. Kevin was an independent character, a maverick like James K. Baxter.

Arohanui= great love, compassion. Fuzz= Baxter's derogatory slang term for the police.
COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Rajnish Manga 23 April 2019

Great poem. I love it. There is nothing in this world quite like freedom. Let each member of human race enjoy freedom and liberty but not at the cost of others. Thanks, Michael. It is a moment of freedom- Because no man can buy my actions or my speech,

1 0 Reply
Michael Walker 25 April 2019

One of Baxter's best poems, I think. Freedom is dear to my heart and I will oppose strongly anyone who tries to take it away. Some have tried to do that to me. I also value very much freedom of speech, like you.

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