"Stories and poems ... written in English in nearly all the English-speaking countries of Oceania, excluding New Zealand and Australia"--Page xix.

Cook Islands. Marjorie Crocombe: The Healer; Bush Beer -- Makiuti Tongia: Beware of dog; I'm not evil; Spirit of the land -- Ta Makirere: Suva sun.

Fiji. Akanisi Sobusobu: the taboo -- Raymond Pillai: to market, to market ... ; Laxmi -- Vanessa Griffen: Afternoon in town; One saturday morning -- Subramani: Sautu; Marigolds -- Prem Banfal: From Christmas to strangers -- Makereta Manueli: The new neighbours -- Seri: That cursed bottle; Monday morning street ride -- Satendra Nandan: Zoo story; Juicy steaks -- Pio Manoa: Under Nabukalou Bridge -- Alafina Vuki; Self-pity.

Kiribati. Ueantabo Fakaofo: Kabirau, my anointing oil -- Maunaa Itaia: The last night of my ancestors; The Lord is my "Te Mauri" in times of trouble -- Francis Tekonnang: Sea and shore.

New Hebrides. Mildred Sope: Motherland; Chusum/Choice -- John Laan: Tell me -- Albert Leomala: Frog; Niuhebridis/New Hebrides -- Kros/Cross -- Kali Vatoko and Albert Leomala: Mi stap sori nomo/I'm not sorry any more -- Nomo stop long taon/Leave the town.

Niue. Niu Togakilo: Me a Niuean; Ugly country.

Papua New Guinea. Vincent Eri: Village, church and school -- Kama Kerpi: Cargo -- John Kadiba: Growing up in Mailu -- Russell Soaba: A portrait of the odd man out -- Arthur Jawodimbari: Conch shell never blows; The bird calls -- Earnest Mararunga: The load of firewood -- John Kasaipwalova: Ruluctant flame -- Kumalau Tawali: The bush kanaka speaks -- Apisai Enos: High water -- Kama Kerpi: Song of lament -- Dus Mapun: O meri wantok -- Pokwari Kate: Homecoming.

Solomon Islands. Celo Kulagoe: Peace signs; White-land/White-land; Dis man/This man.

Tonga. Epeli Hau'ofa: The winding road to heaven; Old wine in new bottles -- Vili Vete: For change -- Konai Helu Thaman: In session; You, the choice of my parents -- Epeli Hau'ofa: Blood in the kava bowl; Our fathers bent the winds.

Western Samoa. Albert Wendt: The birth and death of the miracle man; A talent -- Eti Sa'aga: Me, the labourer -- Ruperake Petaia: Kidnapped; Star in the marble -- Ata Ma'ia'i: Lament -- Sano Malifa: Questions and answers; Voices from the waves; To the woman selling handicrafts outside Burns Philp's doors (a word to the tourist); The art of travelling -- Momoe Von Reiche: Rain; The bible class teacher -- Albert Wendt: Inside us the dead; Conch shell; The Fuluasou River, Upolu (for Jenny); We had a dog once.