© Suva, Fiji, 1920s, Fiji, by Harry Gardiner. Te Papa (PS.002824)
Under the mango tree
This is Lovers’ Spot
12 o’clock
on the dot
Every weekend night
Pandanus mat spread on tarpaulin
Fiji Bitter bottles cling together
Whispers of Taki mai
carried by the night draught
Old village tales entails
Shallow promises – deep secrets and lies
All disappear into the night air
Slippery silver eels intertwine
In the dark
Caressing earlobes with words
Quoted in honey
Secret lovers indulge
Under the mango tree
*
Every household on Tubou High
Enjoyed vunimaqo’s shade on any given day
Children slung like monkeys
From branch to branch
Playing tag
Shouts from youth –
Hee! Hee – He
You can’t touch me
I’ve watched generations pass through here
Only a few remain in the barracks
*
Those two uto trees
My most loyal companions
Ever since I can remember
They’ve stood by me
Hurricane Bebe and Cyclone Winston
We’ve stood together in solidarity
Protecting the barracks
We know this land very well
The barrack-land
Also known as
Shadowland
*
Mangoes Grew Us
Children dance the meke
Hands swaying in the air
chanting to the sun
Little fingers flick
marbles on a muddy patch of ground
under the mango tree
iYau mangoes hung ripe from vunimaqo once
Children still dance under the mango tree
different meke moves now
Hope history never repeats itself
iYau mangoes hang from her branches no more
Nana and Papa nurtured us all
Solo parents and children
Huddled closely at 27 Tubou Street
Mosquito nets tucked under mattresses
on linoleum floors
Women and children in a single bedroom
under the kitchen table and sitting room floor
Morning Novenas
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus defend us in our battles
Laialaia medicine every morning – kept us healthy
Strangers from all walks of life – now family
Meals prepared by the maramas of the house
Men worked the teitei with Papa
Pawapaw-guava-bananas-dalo
Tavioka-yams-vudi-kumala
Fresh seafood Saturdays from Suva market
Nama-kuka-ika-kuita-lumi
Mana and Qari
Altar boy on Sundays – 10am Mass
Lunch under vunimaqo
Strolls to Wailoku Falls in the afternoon
Sing along evenings –
Guitars and ukulele
Strumming Isa Lei melodies into the night
Sosoko mix in kava bowl
Chinese lollies – chases the yaqona down
*
She is Nana
Tears fall
Like Suva rain
Sleepless nights – countless rosary beads
Between withered fingers
Freshly lit candle burning on the altar
Our Father who art in Heaven – Lord be thy name…
Pacing the front yard, step by step
Bead by bead as hours disappear
Sorrowful Mysteries
Hail Mary full of grace…
She has witnessed children
Bearing babies
Unknown fathers
Generation What Next?
All she ever does is pray
GOD have mercy on us
Jobless
Violent fathers
Loveless
Desperate mothers
Sorrowful mysteries
Glory be to the Father – to the Son and the Holy Spirit
She refuses to go
Saying not yet
Growing older
Watching grandchildren grow
Great grandchildren grow
To have children
The cycle continues
Untold stories unfold
Nothing good comes out of the barracks
I came back to visit Nana
To sit under the Mango Tree with her
One last time
For theirs is the kingdom – the power and glory
Forever and ever
Amen
