Mark Pirie included in Rugby Poetry Anthology
Three of my poems were included in the recently released anthology of rugby poetry called Touchlines. It is mainly about the history of New Zealand rugby and the All Blacks.
It is a wonderful tour through historic newspapers unearthing many gems on famous rugby players of long ago i.e. the All Black Originals of 1905/06 and the Invincibles of 1924/25 up to and including recent legends like Sir John Kirwan and 2011 World Cup star Piri Weepu.
The book is edited by All Blacks historian Ron Palenski and my three poems in it are 'Scrum-feed' for Piri Weepu, 'The Cup' for Richie McCaw and 'The Wandering Bard' for poet Ernest L Eyre (a life member of the North Shore Rugby Club).
My own grandfather Tom Lawn (a club player 1919-1929) coached the North Shore Club back in 1938 with Bert Cooke, the All Black Invincible of 1924/25.
I also guest edited the Tuesday Poem blog, 30 April 2013, with an All Blacks poem by Robert J Pope from the book I recently published called King Willow.
Copies of Ron Palenski's Touchlines: An Anthology of Rugby Poetry can be purchased direct from the NZ Sports Hall of Fame, Dunedin. Price $22.00NZ. Email: [email protected] Copies can be purchased by credit card on telephone 64 3 477 7775. Website: http://nzhalloffame.co.nz