A
new
month
And the start
of summer
But the same old bones
Reluctant
into the aching
sea blue
dawn
Riemke Ensing
1939 – 2026
To celebrate Riemke’s life and work
An oak tree will be planted in spring amongst the natives in Muriwai.
If you would like to attend please send an email
or call James
021 515 515
We would love to receive any stories of your experiences with Riemke
Mac Jackson says: I was sad to learn of Riemke’s death. She was a valued AU English Department colleague of mine for many years, and one of whom I was very fond. I loved her forthrightness and liveliness, and have always admired her poetry. In fact my appreciation of Riemke goes back to my earliest years in the Department, when she was in a tutorial class I was taking, and expressed a different view from mine about the merits of a poem by D. H. Lawrence. Her intelligence and independence of spirit were obvious to me even then.
The English Department would have been a lesser place without her. And her contribution to New Zealand poetry will endure.
With sympathy,
Mac Jackson
ellen ayers says: I remember the Ensing girls when they arrived in Turiwiri in the 1950, a long time ago and we never lost touch, enjoyed the occasional lunch, and lots of reminiscence, rest in peace dear Riemann.
With sympathy
Ellen Ayres
Dearest Riemke, somehow yesterday in my bones I knew you’d moved on ‘into the aching blue dawn’ and this morning via a message from Jack Ross I see it’s true. Like Cath I’m glad to know you’re now beyond pain, but like Mac so sad to know you’re not here any longer in the same lively presence you always had – forthright, clever, insightful, poetic, waking us all up, to keep up with you. You and I first met when you directed a Beckett play in 1968, Come & Go, my first time on stage. Since then we’ve had a wonderful friendship including our Kemsing Poetry Reading Tour of the North Island, touring and performing together, that will live on in my memory. My deepest condolences go to you, James, Mindy and Hendrik. My laptop screen shows a photo once taken near the gannet colony at Muriwai looking out to sea. I shall imagine Riemke joining my beloved husband Dieter flying high out there, remembering them. Arohanui, your old friend Jan
ps also my deepest condolences to Astrid, your devoted & beloved sister, Jan
Haere Ra dearest Riemke. So relieved you could finally be free from pain and that we had such vibrant talks together up here before you departed. Your beautiful, stunning poetry and presence lives on and we will all keep your memory alive forever. Arohanui from Cath Koa Dunsord.