Tai's shadow poem

“Where I am From” by Sailitai
Inspired by George Ella Lyon

I am from the beautiful mountains and trees that grow all around me,
from the gleaming hot sun to nice cool air that blows,
I am from the fire that makes me sad,
(everything is now gone,
everything is now bad)
I from a neighborhood of hate and sorrow
where everyone thinks of themselves.

I am from “pa'pa” and the hard branch of the tree,
from people who think Family First,
I am from the make-it-happen
and the make-it-right
I am from the book that tells me how to pray,
from my right hand on it to swear to do good.

I am from Pago village community
the cool and nice air takes me back to that time,
from the cut on my brother’s arm
made by the iron metal,
to the box they carried him in,
so he can rest for years to come.
I am from His teaching that was brought down to me,
from my talent and understandings,
to the people that need help understanding it,
I am no longer in the neighborhood of hate and sorrow,
I am in neighborhood of forgive and forget