Wild Dogs Under My Skirt

by Tusiata Avia

This vivacious collection of poetry charts the author's experience with the sometimes painful intersection of New Zealand and Samoan cultures in her life. Alive with the energy and rhythm of performance poetry and oral traditions, these poems reshape common understanding of New Zealand culture.

Genres: Poetry

72 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Anya Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

I discovered this collection in the readings of a Pacific languages course, and now I want to read all of Avia's poetry. Some poems are shocking, others are comical; all are entertaining and thought-provoking. (Also, I definitely recommend checking out Avia's live performance of this collection available on Youtube, her use of accent and delivery is really powerful).

[Justin Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, THAT was a surprise. Violent, shocking and bloody funny. I doubt it would have made her many friends in the Samoan community, but I'm guessing from that voice that she might not be too worried about that. Would love to have seen/heard these poems in performance. Highly recommended

[Morvling Bookink · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty much 4 stars

Amazing poetry! It was really an honour when she came to our school to teach about poetry and writing.

Honestly I love dialects for some reason so the poems that were in dialect were my favourite - probably the Bingo one. It was funny seeing white people being deserved as Palagi when as a kiwi I'm more used to the term Pākeha, but they're synonymous.

[bookmaggot · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I want to frighten my lovers"- Tusiata Avia

Brilliant! I am at a loss for words.

[Lei · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tusiata Avia’s first collection of poetry Wild Dogs Under My Skirt draws on two different cultures, and charts the sometimes painful points of their intersection. These poems are both confrontational and entertaining, raw and lyrical; they occupy legend and history – "we are direct descendants of flesh-eaters" – yet break through into an urban landscape that is just as arresting and richly patterned. Avia’s poetry is alive with the energy and rhythm of performance poetry and of an oral tradition, but it also stakes out a unique physical life on the page, reshaping our language and our understanding of New Zealand culture.

"Tusiata’s poetry is quite revolutionary in the sense that, not only does it define the face of Pacific literature in New Zealand, but it redefines the face of New Zealand literature itself."

I enjoyed this and seeing her up on stage performing this while being a student at Victoria University me under what she was saying and where she was coming from!

malo lava le taumafae Tusiata, Malo lava!

[Piper Mejia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Themes of love, family, identity and culture.