so many stars
so many moons
so many winds
so many waves
so many fish
so many birds
so many flowers
so many leaves
so many trees
so many roots
so many ancestors
so many gods
so many relatives
so many relations
so many stories
so many songs
so many words
so many ways
I remember now
how
I forgot
how
much it hurt
when you left me
It was easy
I just told the story
over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over
until the story became mine
but
not me
and that’s how
I forget now to
remember
how
much it hurt
when you left me
I just tell the story
over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over
until the story becomes mine
but not
me
and I’ve remembered now
how
to forget
how
much it hurt
when you left me
Teresia Teaiwa is of African American, Banaban and I-Kiribati (Pacific Islander) heritage. She was born in Honolulu, Hawai'i, raised in the Fiji Islands, and now lives in Wellington, New Zealand. Teresia's poetry publications include: Searching for Nei Nim'anoa (1995) and Terenesia: Amplified Poetry and Songs by Teresia Teaiwa and Sia Figiel (2000). She is currently a working on a solo CD of spoken word.