I love us.
The late night
ipu ti talks
where no one
understands better than
Us. I love
Uncle’s deep tone
that barks and sings
beautiful bass lines.
I love
when you, cousin,
fix your hair between feau’s
while brother
figures out
family night stereo.
I love us
so much
that I hope
for more.
Call me extra
or ova
or dramatic.
But just like how
we share the same
pese on Sunday,
memories of Friday,
and Aunty across town,
we share problems.
Polynesian sized
coconut wireless lies
arrogant pride
problems.
I used to try in school
but good grades can't solve
what is to be figured out
at home.
I can’t calculate why
family over everything
is elei’d on our shirts
but isn’t felt by the
person wearing it.
Or why
fourteen year old
daughters suffocate
in fale’s full of
open air.
Or why
sons are ma’d in public
for what they haven’t been taught,
left to deal with their
minds alone.
Am I the only one
Who noticed when
Moana sailed off screen
her fake reality stung?
Where can I find a family
like hers?
She looks
like us.
We were here before.
Painted island looks
like ours.
We were here before.
But those warm, genuine smiles
are hard to come by.
I hope for more.
I hope for honesty.
If we were honest
in front of our faces
instead of behind
woven fans,
the air would be
a lot cooler
and we could move on
to things like climate.
Change starts in the home.
Until we figure out ourselves
we won’t figure out
our solutions.
Until you cherish me,
sister, brother,
cousin, in betweens
you will not cherish us.
It starts within and
within the home.
I love us.
And I hate that we don’t
love ourselves
to the point of
sharing our problems.
There’s no doubt that
we are connected by water,
but shorelines change.
Please allow me to be frank:
our youth are leaving
our young adults are moving
knowledge is fleeing
because this is not working.
Unless we fight
to listen around the table
talk through the pain
I will find love elsewhere.
because the world is vast
and it is not too good for me
to move on.
I love us.
And I am learning
to love myself,
including those who
really love me.
Thank God for real friends
outside of our spheres.
I would choose family
any day over anyone.
But I’m not dull enough
to stay in toxic relationships.
Ironically, you have taught me better.
Maybe that is the solution
to our problem
which surpass tables
where we have been placed.
I am outgrowing our land
but I don’t want to leave
us behind.
How revolutionary
it is to find love
amongst those
who really care.
Family.