Foresight
By Waiata Dawn Davies
At three score years and twenty-five
each new sunrise is expected
and every expectation now requires
enormous deeds of faith.
At night I set rolled oats to soak
for tomorrow's breakfast,
take meat from the freezer
for tomorrow's dinner
iron tomorrow's clothes.
And I tidy my bookshelves
just in case I don't wake up.
• Waiata Dawn Davies, aged 85, is a retired teacher, mother of 8 sons, and grandmother to 22 grandchildren. She lives in a fishing crib at the mouth of the Waitaki River.
