Always Italicise: How to Write While Colonised

by Alice Te Punga Somerville

A first book of poetry from acclaimed Maori writer and scholar Alice Te Punga Somerville.

Genres: Poetry, Nonfiction

88 pages, Paperback

Published February 8, 2023

Reviews

[Leo · Rating 5 out of 5]

TW: racism, death, colonisation

"Italicise foreign words in your works so readers won't get confused." Te Punga Summerville's response? "Okay, then I'm italicising english" is so kick butt and sassy I love it. 😎

Yet along with this retaking of power she expertly shows the pain of constant racism, as well as the difficulties of being Māori who doesn't know the language. It reminded of a scene from the film 'Rūrangi' that roughly went "first they shamed us for speaking te reo, and now we are shamed if we don't know how."

Angry, powerful, resiliant. A truly victorious work.

[Rebecca Matthews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even if you don’t normally read poetry you should read this. If I ever meet the author in real life I will embarrass myself with fawning fangirlism.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

We both know a language is waiting inside my tongue.

And it is, indeed. Alice Te Punga Somerville's first poetry collection reflects on language, colonialism, and her existence as an Indigenous female scholar by talking about her family, her friends, and her academic work (and hopes). I enjoyed it, even if I lacked a lot of the cultural context.

However, her poetry is a little (or a lot) unconventional, definitely very contemporary, and sometimes I felt like a lot of the poems could've been either expanded or scrapped altogether. This doesn't mean they were bad; rather, it means that I didn't really understand them, and as such they didn't add any value for me. Some other poems, on the contrary, were poignant enough to touch my heart. My favourite was definitely the first one.

Definitely a good first incursion on the author, but I think I'll check out her prose works next time.

[Madeleine · Rating 4 out of 5]

i don’t think i’ll stop thinking about this one

[Bells · Rating 5 out of 5]

“One day you remember this thing you are repairing is a waka.”
Waitangi Day 2019. room. firsts. Practically every poem in this brilliant collection winded me. You know when people say ‘oh this is a work of art’… Yeah, that’s this pukapuka. He ātaahua ngā kupu e Alice Te Punga Sommerville - Toku reo, toku ohooho ❤️🖤

[p.leer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic. Post-colonial poetry is the backbone of the Aotearoa art scene in my opinion. The first poem in this collection, Kupu rere kē, is the linchpin of the entire piece, creating a powerful context everything that comes after. Other poems could have been removed to minimal effect, but I don't think that matters. Somerville's poems arrive mostly as gifts. They exist to be treasured for their recepient and we are fortunate enough to be granted a look.

[Delia Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really excellent.
The most insidious racism is to think a white framework is the norm, and all else can be included.
However, this is not actually inclusivity, and Te Punga Somervilles poems explain the harm of it; if nothing else the harm of seeing the world so narrowly.

The poem “room” explains this the best.

Really really excellent.

[Celeste Loia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 4⭐️ rating is more a reflection of reading up against a library return deadline that prevented me from having time to fully sit with and digest some of the poems. Poetry comprehension has never been my forté, and adding my own ignorance of Māori culture to that, made some of the poems go fully over my head without time to investigate and learn further. I did really enjoy the poem explaining the title of the book and thought it very clever and found plenty of other poems throughout that cut deep.

***quotes***

"We own this house

And that's the bit you couldn't comprehend: that we aren't tenants.

But the Fijan guy, he's your partner?

As if melanin was magic that could cancel out mortage documents,
builder's reports, loan deeds, council permissions, rates, and all that insurance.

[...]

The slow-motion genocide that is life under siege in a settler colony
Is undertaken in quiet conversations, small unbreakable silences, comments left to fester,

an expectation of neighborliness that means it's okay to assume that we don't own a house
but it would be rude for me to draw attention to your assumption."
From Waitangi Day 2019 (28-29)

[Mait Harkey · Rating 4 out of 5]

25 April 2026

4 stars

I liked this more for the social/political commentary than for the actual poetry. The flow of the poems themselves often felt a bit clunky and awkward to me as I read, but the ideas inside were loud and important and made it still feel interesting and valuable to read them. (I actually picked this book up thinking it was an essay/collection of essays rather than poetry, so it may have worked better for me if I had known what I was getting into).

Despite some things that weren't my favorite within the style, there were a couple of poems that made this whole book well-worth reading. “An Indigenous scholar’s request to other scholars," as well as the final poem of the book (I forgot to write down the name but it was basically Te Punga Somerville recording a benediction for her life and future) were both absolutely stunning and made me think.

Certainly worth a read! Don't let the brevity deceive you--this short volume takes effort and time to get through. Give it a moment to breathe.

[Nelson Wattie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The idea of italicising most of the words in the text because they are foreign to the poet is clever and witty, and it makes a rhetorical point. But is it sincere beyond that? Clearly these poems are written in English for readers who can understand them in that language. The language is not really foreign to writer or reader. Yes, the gesture works well on an argumentative level, but that is only a beginning. Are the poems as poems worthy of the five stars most reviewers are willing to grant them? In general - and especially with reference to Keats's aesthetics which most Anglophone readers of poetry accept - argumentative, rhetorical, didactic poetry ranks lower than lyrical, narrative and other kinds which leave a reader to think about them rather than be told to accept them. My assessment of the poems in this book is that they are effective on a rhetorical level but that there is a higher level of judgement on which they are good but not great.

[Kate Presswell · Rating 5 out of 5]

oomph. i immediately loved this, having come across Alice's writing via e-Tangata, and then heading straight down to the Uni bookstore to find a copy for myself. have only had a first read through, but so far was really struck by Missing, time to write, room, Waitangi Day 2019, This is what it feels like, Anchor, and Raakau. i only got the book yesterday, but have encouraged many to buy it, and look forward to settling in to read some of the longer poems and re-visiting the initial favourites. 'Missing' is one of the biggest journey's i've been taken on in 4 sentences. what a gem. thank you Alice.

[Jill Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A librarian recommended this book to me. I’m glad she did. And I’m glad of the warning, too. She said - “I thought it would be a quick, easy read.” And that’s not an unreasonable assumption, given the slim nature of this collection. She added : “But it wasn’t, not for me, anyway.”

It’s been a similar experience for me. Six weeks it’s taken me to read these poems. They’ve hurt, and exhilarated me. Most of all they’ve inspired me to do better, to be better.

I

[Ellen Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 - a powerful collection of poetry about being Māori in a settler colonial state - the writing style packs a punch, but there’s still both wit and aroha woven. The poems also flow between english and te reo, which I love.

Some faves of mine are “ielts”, “a new generation of historians on flight nz449”, “waitangi day 2019”, and, the best one of all, “an indigenous woman scholar’s prayer”.

[rexrae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never knew the stylistic decision to italicize could be one of resistance. Language has been misused to advance the heinous legacies of colonialism but Alice helps us remember it is a container of light, a necessary method of protest for us to maximize. Firsts is my most favorite to have come out of this collection.

[Melinda Szymanik]

This is a superb collection that challenged and stretched my thinking, and brought me joy with its wisdom and wise use of words. Faves include Kupu rere ke, a new generation of historians on flight NZ449, Waitangi Day 2019, Permeable, he waiata tangi, he waiata aroha, and An Indigenous woman scholar's prayer.
Just wonderful.

[Renée Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A hopeful and uplifting personal collection of poems that act almost like a how to guide for navigating Aotearoa for māori, both informative and affirming. Speaks to legacy and the work our ancestors have laid for us and the responsibility to continue that work for future generations.

[Alison Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

So many nuggets in this book. An insight into the visceral detail and impact of colonisation, and what it means to be Māori, a scholar, a writer, a mother, a person in this context. Some insights I was familiar with, and some were brand new to me. Meaningful and heartfelt.

[Te Aniwaniwa]

I like the concept of the book: italicising foreign words and then having all pakeha words in italics

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

In short this is a book of poetry and id describe as cheeky poetry book.
Not something I’d look for but perhaps a wee stocking filler and a great coffee table book.

[Kieran Craft · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this is great. Full of so much powerful writing, up to and especially including the very final line.

"May I run out of ideas before I run out of time."

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't pretend to know much about the nuances of poetry but these poems were informative and intimate and made stark points about our world.

[Rachel Chisholm-Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal.

[Rosie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a bit of poetry and had such a fun perspective. I am excited for the academic world honestly tho I hope it gets better yikes.

[Saf · Rating 5 out of 5]

🔥🔥🔥

[Mauatua Fa’Ara-Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

“paperbark stories” — i love u alice

[sheerin · Rating 5 out of 5]

ok im usually shameful of not enjoying poetry books but this SLAPPPSSSSS

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Breathtaking

[Fish Food · Rating 5 out of 5]

absolutely beautiful Māori poetry. very visceral and lyrical. i loved this book.

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful and a must read

[Rosie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book of poetry. Read all of it in one sitting. Highly recommend to anyone willing to give it a go.