April 01, 2005

Hale Pu'u honua- A Mele (Chant or spoken song)

Bamboo Orchids growing wild in our yard

Hale Pu'u honua~~~a mele of grief and farewell


This was the name that I gave
to our home here,
in the green desert,
House in a place of refuge
of safety...

How could I know
In those days of dreaming
That this would be
a foolish misnomer

My sanctuary from
The things I loved
the most to do...
For its impossible here
to be active in the rain

How could I know
that the very brooding
nature of this place
was toxic to our lives

My palace in the jungle
my peaceful dream home
became a place of want
and emptiness of soul
a loss of vision

How could I know
That we would learn
to communicate the local way
by yelling at each other.

Hale Pu'u honua
My hearts desire
Where the bamboo orchid
florishes among the
destroying lava flows

How could I know
that to the locals
that this four petaled
flower, signifies death

That is why I planted it
in and among
the stones of Puna
to signify the death
of my dream

How could I know
that Pu'u honua
is impossible here
amidst the lava flows...