Selling It

Two women stand
at the display of bone carvings.
One asks:
What does the fish hook mean?

This, he says, picking one up,
stands for all the tribes
in New Zealand,
it is the fish for all tribes;

and this, he says,
picking up a hook
shaped as the whale's tail,
stands for the Kai Tahu tribe,
the South Islanders
of New Zealand,
that is our fish.

I didn't know that,
she says. Thank you.
She leaves.

It has been a small revelation.

© 2000 Trout &
Rangi Faith