Lord, give me a white man! by Ta’afuli Andrew Fiu

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Lord, give me a white man!

Ta’afuli Andrew Fiu

“Lord, give me a white man!”
Her voice is searching, screaming for providence.
I thought of leaving her before.
“Jesus Christ!...
I’m tired of coconut men fucking my life up!”
down the hallway I hear.
The words ricocheting off Housing Corp walls,
off naked light bulbs,
off plastic bags with shopping,
hitting a nerve then landing on
threadbare floors.

I stare beyond
to the washing line outside.
The rain crying for me,
Hitting the roofs with moist laden winds,
blowing sadly against the door.
Angry to see.
Leave the Chop Suey to someone else,
let the fish keep its scales
and leave it in the sink.
Maybe another man will see to that
Because the milk is sour in that fridge.

Though I will know more than any new man can see,
because a picture does not paint a thousand words
It captures much more.
But the Palagi – white man can only see so much.
And sure enough she looks wholesome –
the brown skin
and fine chiseled nose,
the seductive motion she weaves -
both selective and taught
from traditional Seafarers under breadfruit trees
that would gut a fish just to savor the stench.

Lord give her a white man or any man indeed.
Let them be mocked and humiliated.
And she’ll reward with fake love
as he brings home wet fish and shopping placed gently on the kitchen bench.
Let him stand alone in the kitchen subservient.
Long enough lord,

So I can be free.

Filed under : EDITION  - Vaka Moana 

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