Under the Koa Tree

Under The Koa Tree

Rooted in ancient fires
Spat out black and thickly
From the womb of earthen mother's

labored yearnings...

Sprawled over the grinding bed
Of a slippery submission
to the relentless pounce
of endless tides
along an unforgiving time...

Bowed and trembling
Limbs curled
into tendrils
Twists
Of cinereous dreams
Becoming the spill of bark

Canopied in verdant wishes
Blown

Under the hot breath of Paka 'a...

Besieged by Kanaloa's
Impatient bating...

You alone stand calm

Like Asoka

Carved in the edict of rocks,
Your pillars
Offering dappled balm

To the wear-bitten
From the piercing eye within the sin

Of a blistering Sun

shone...

The kiss of life
Exalted in your sacrifice for us
And

Here
We rest...
In that place

Where
Fear evaporates
into welcome coolings...
Leaving behind only salty licks
The suspiring trails of mantles flushed

Suffused with joy,

We dance

in the shadows

of fallen light
With bemused geckos
To the tune

in the song
of your sacred silent shade...