Nu i Che`lu-hu Palao`an
Like the two lovers,
the sisters tied their hair
and together
they jumped off
Puntan Dos Amantes
into the tåsi,
cleansing themselves
of all
the pain,
mistrust,
hurtful words,
awkward moments
of silence.
In this ocean,
the ocean of their Mother,
they immerse themselves
regaining strength,
Loving each other all over again.
Together
their hair still connected,
they rise quickly
through the water
like dolphins
and jump
into the air of their Mother.
Landing back in the ocean,
the sisters
hear
the såyan tåsi of their father:
“It’s time to go back.
Nånan Tåno` is calling for you.”
Their hair now separated,
the sisters swim back
to the land
of their Mother.
Mano`oppop
Gi i inai, mane`ekungok in fino`-ña as Nånan Tåno`.
Laying their bodies to the sand,
they listen to the words of Nånan Tåno`.
“Fanmanaguaiya.
Fana`asi`e`.
Yan hassuyi mo`nana,
na en fanafa`maolek.”
“Love each other.
Forgive each other.
And always remember,
to take care
of each other.”
Sitting in History
Do you know what it’s like to sit in a history class
listening to your professor talk about his history
my history
your history
our history?
Do you know what it’s like to sit in a history class
listening to your professor talk about what life was like
For your ancestors
before the Spanish came
Chanting, Fishing
Latte, Lusong
Amot
when the Spanish came
cross, bible
clothes, church
baptism
after the Spanish…left (but never really did)
Do you know what it’s like to sit in a history class
listening to your professor talk about one colonizer
after the other
Countries that hung their flags
and told our people that we were under their control
Us not knowing that we would lose control of everything we knew
Our people’s ways of living were forever altered
tainted by the colonizers’ (plural)
bibles, crosses, churches, SPAM, chocolate, McDonald’s, militarism
Do you know what it’s like to sit in a history class
Not wanting to listen to your professor talk about
the tragedies of your people
how the Spanish came
and killed THEM
how the Japanese came
and killed THEM
how the Americans came
and killed US
I know what it’s like to sit in my history class
listening to my professor talk about
our people
our past
I know what it’s like to sit in my history class
and feeling
on some days,
like I don’t want to be here
Listening
But on most days,
feeling
like
I am being reconnected
to my ancestors
to my past
I know what it’s like to sit in my history.
I’m sitting in it right now.