Poem by Kawena Lorenzo | Age: 39
I am from the dart-board,
The coveted corner house by the stop sign,
Grandma's pork chops, mom's Thanksgiving ham,
And dad's tuna potato salad
These dishes, treats for special occasions, But always in my mind when I
crave something ʻono.
I am from the ti leaves,
The front yard tree,
Where I used to lie under its shade During the hot summer seasons,
Its long-gone limbs I remember as if my own.
I am from Saturday fishing days,
And Sunday morning golf games with Cedric and William.
I am from walking into rooms without knocking,
Leaving clothes everywhere but the hamper,
Procrastinating till the last minute.
I am from "Sit down!" and "Go to your room!"
And "No one leaves the table until they eat all their food!"
Trick-or-treating in Pearl City,
Where the best candies, spam musubi, and money were given out.
From ke one a Kakuhihewa,
Fried eggs and Portuguese sausage.
From brave immigrants,
Grandfather Cirilo arriving in Hawaiʻi on the S.S. Maunawili in 1946,
The wave of the second-generation Filipino plantation workers known
as the Sakudas,
100 years old with a lifetime of stories.
Baby pictures of my nephew, Eli,
In my sister's room on her dresser.
I am from the utility pole,
Where I found my mother’s note etched on the side to my uncle,
Telling him how much she misses him.
I used to stare at her message,
Knowing how difficult it was for her.
The pole has been replaced,
But I still remember what it said,
"Why did you have to leave us, brother, I miss you."
I am from Sunday mornings in front of the TV with my grandma,
Watching Hercules and Xena Warrior Princess.
I am from running down the dark hallway to my room,
Before the boogie man gets me.
I am from rooms shared with bunk beds,
Countless nights of conversations between siblings,
Unbeknownst to us that our parents could hear everything we were
saying.
I am from Saturday baseball games, soccer games, and volleyball games.
Excited to go to Summer Fun, To hang out with my friends.
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