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Glimpse
I am from salt-rusted thimbles and sun-faded embroidery,
from wrinkled hands gloved in clay silt.
I am from koa paddles, maile lei
the tang of crushed leaves, sun and
sweat.
I’m from big
fish and bigger sharks,
from clothes worn soft and set in stains,
from Eh, Boo! and Oi, Tudia!
I’m from Huey! let
go of my boat
you’re not getting a ride
and Karenga said to smack you
instead.
I’m from Cook Island brooms and swatting boys,
rolling eyes and thick pidgin.
From the calluses of running on coral rocks,
the scars of falling on a`a.
In my town are four generations
knit together by stories,
independent and intertwining.
I am from those kanikapila—
the sleepy damper on talk story time—
one patch in the plush tivaivai quilt.
Giulia Anderson
12th grade, Iolani School
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