MEETING IN WEST MAUI

            For Maulupe Ofa

by Marguerite Guzmán Bouvard

Sometimes   a word is   too small

too insignificant    like the word   smile

that cannot  hold   the layers   of years

and understanding     the harmony

of sitting beneath   a tree  that has its

own language   the land   they took  away

from your people   that didn’t take   its memories

or its history    the hands carving   a wooden turtle

that will fly   on its own   journey   the eyes

that look    at a stranger   with ripples

of peace   and contentment   the grace

of a summer sky

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Web: http://www.MargueriteGBouvard.com

Web: http://www.brandeis.edu/wsrc/bouvard
Web: http://www.lavenderink.org/content/186