Poetry Shelf Monday Poem

By Poetry Shelf - Paula Green | Posted: Tuesday Nov 25, 2025

volume turned down to 7 by Kay McKenzie Cooke

Poetry Shelf Monday Poem: ‘volume turned down to 7’ by Kay McKenzie Cooke | NZ Poetry Shelf

volume turned down to 7

Slowly it dawns, the need to listen
to the faint grief of a mourning cello, the sky’s blue jug
pouring out a second helping of custard sun,
this music that vies with a lost bee and a kereru’s three-note
flight path beyond our open door. Nick Tipping’s low voice,
sounding like a pilot’s announcement: Enjoy this shadow of trees,
this laughter of water. From among a shock of leaves, a tūī’s semi-colon,
a piano note, a caught dragonfly cupped in the soft sweat of a child’s hand.
The lowest black key repeating—a lawnmower four houses down.
Nick corrects himself, ‘Rachmaninoff,’ he says.
My grandson comes down to visit from upstairs, says,
‘I thought you were still in bed.’
No. I’m here just awake and no more even though
it’s now past noon. I’m here taking it all in. The Concert Programme
in summer, volume turned down to 7, the fret of a pīwakawaka. No.
I stand corrected. Vaughan Williams’ Lark Ascending.

Kay McKenzie Cooke

Although Kay McKenzie Cooke (Waitaha, Kāti Māmoe, Kāi Tahu) lives in Ōtepoti Dunedin, she continues to hold a deep connection to Murihiku Southland, the province where she was born. She is the author of four poetry collections and three novels.