Island girl sweet island girl
stumblin down a side street
small and frail.
Heels too high, half size too small
Broad feet throbbing
Stumble
Fall


1

Ole Grampa Maynard was a mighty island man
Green fruit would sigh then tremble and drop ripe into his hands
His beauty as a youth caused the very dawn to blush
Now he just fish and smoke and spit and cuss


My gramma Kluie forever sang Gods praise
In return he blessed her life and gave her extra days.
She knew grace and love as she lay upon the beach
and eager waves rushed forward for a chance to touch her feet.

My mamas name big mama, that magnificent island child:
Poetry in languid motion some say that she was wild
Fish jump into her hands directly from the seas
She rarely wore enuff to cover those big and soft knock-knees.

Ma birthed six daughters neath a knowing Koa tree
Swearing in vain that each one would be the last.
Maybe she too dreamt of things not meant to be
And so deleted her future as some girls do their past


2
When i lived amongst my people as a salty island girl,
the force of my lover’s magic often sank my shoulders into warm nights sands,
Sent my hips shooting skyward like stars seeking other galaxies.
Spent, i would lay on the edge of the world
where the sky meets the sea meets the earth
and let the night waters wash his seed and sweat away from me.

3

Now I’m staggering out of a family clinic on 116th street
Teetering on 6 inches and housing a foreign object
Shaped like that unlucky number 7
Poised like deaths scythe to strike and kill, chop off the tadpole heads as they innocently swim in the well oiled channels of love..
4

Girl.
Oh girl.
Don’t you, can’t you feel bad?
How can you forget what your souls longing wanted you to have
How do you live this imitation of a life
Making a mockery of all that is good in the world?


Island girl sweet island girl
stumblin down a side street
small and frail.
Shake a hand, make a friend
Shake a tail feather.
Heels too high, half size too small
Broad feet throbbing
Stumble
Fall
Epilogue

Daddy never spoke much yet managed to convey deep love
He sought communion with spirits, smoked herbs, ate nor fish nor meat, just fruits and roots, listened to strange music and worshipped my mother.
When I think of my father I see a colossal statue, silent, waiting on the beach for his ultimate demise…

I am only glad that his ever vigilant eye can’t see me now.