Harawene Whanau Reunion
for Auntie Lila, with love
Kaupapa of our Reunion (11/12/91)
clouds
how colours
break then weigh
heaviness of the land against airiness of the sky
say
look at that pa there
or the river
it's Taumarere
with a bone-rock undertow
radical as the best beat
keeping the whanau fresh
for a smooth shave skinny dip
an eel chase
to shake
off all the things you hate
to splash in water
and crack the soul's crust
thick as blood coursing paddocks knowing
you are welcome, cousin,
welcome! after all the wrongs
(they ache) to see Turi
Auntie Judy and my sisters
Mattie's new house and Grandad looking well
(we want this reunion)
Nanny Bella's unveiling and flowers for her grave
the fine work my cousin Helen put into decorating
our Christmas tree
each decoration has the name
of a Harawene (a Sullivan) sewn on in satin,
how the branches connect to make our family tree,
our whakapapa, and the aim, our kaupapa,
is that we may know and reach out support
and love one another -- that's
what it's all about.
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