Poetry isn't in my words, 1969

Poetry isn't in my words

Colin McCahon Sept. 5. 69 (pencil, b.r.); Peter Hooper - "Poetry is for Peasants" (b.l.)

POETRY / ISN'T IN MY WORDS / IT'S IN THE DIRECTION / I'M POINTING
IF YOU CAN'T / UNDERSTAND THAT / AND IF YOU'RE APPALLED / AT THE JOURNEY / STICK TO THE / GUIDED TOURS
THEY ISSUE / RETURN / TICKETS

1969 Written paintings and drawings: Colin McCahon
Barry Lett Galleries
Auckland
6/10/1969 - 17/10/1969

2002 Colin McCahon: A Question of Faith
Stedelijk Museum
Amsterdam
30/8/2002 - 10/11/2002

The text is from Peter Hooper's poem 'Poetry is for peasants', from Journey towards an elegy and other poems (Nag's Head Press, Christchurch, 1969).