Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Day 778: im not ready for this poem either. fuck

"Times will come when you feel you are being pushed into the background. Never allow this to happen - stand always on your own foundation. But you will have to make that foundation. There will come time when to make this stand will be difficult, especially to you of Hawaiian birth; But conquer you can - if you will." - Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop.

we were told to be industrious
so be hid steel plate under our skin
because we knew somedays the best offense is a good defense
and that growing up and leaving this island would make us vulnerable to attack
we were born scared
running from history
but she said be industrious
so we tied a part of her name to our body
tattooed her great uncle to our ankle and promised to never wear the color blue with yellow
the subtle things made us family
the way we refused silence
made us warriors

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