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Mark Pirie publishes a book of rugby poems

Posted Sunday, November 17, 2013 by Mark Pirie
Archived as Thomas Henry Lawn, Rugby poetry, The Night Press

I'm pleased to announce the publication of a small book of my rugby poems written between 1994 and 2013 through my imprint The Night Press.

The book is titled "Sidelights" after a rugby column of the same name in the Auckland Weekly News, 1938.

The book includes poems on the All Blacks, Super Rugby and my rugby family, including four poems on my rugby playing Grandpa Tommy Lawn and his full rugby bio inside the book.

For book details click here.

For info on Tom Lawn see my previous post
/blog/2012/12/21/nz-rugby-museum-article-on-mark-pirie's-grandfather

The Night Press is an imprint for my journal broadsheet, which publishes occasional hand-made chapbooks/mini books.

Mark Pirie included in Rugby Poetry Anthology

Posted Tuesday, May 7, 2013 by Mark Pirie
Archived as Piri Weepu, All Blacks, Ron Palenski, Rugby poetry, Richie McCaw

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

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