2 poems by

M.G. MARTIN

Old Gramma Say

for Jessie Costa Farias 1903 - 1994

Before time Old Gramma say

                                                living inside rain

                                                is the last step

                                                before becoming sky

Before time Old Gramma say

                                                sometimes it feels

                                                like the earth is against

                                                you

Before time Old Gramma say

                                                life is shaka

                                                when one rooster

                                                is part of your ohana

Before time Old Gramma say

                                                the end of a moment

                                                starts the rest

                                                of an existence

Before time Old Gramma say

                                                you are all the seeds

                                                of the papaya

Before time Old Gramma say

                                                rain reminds us

                                                to fall down

                                                at the right time

Before time Old Gramma say

                                                when the milk come

                                                sour someone wishing

                                                you bad juju

Before time Old Gramma say

                                                walk straight

                                                the world is in constant

                                                spin

Before time Old Gramma say

                                                Ben Cayetano

                                                need mo’ white

                                                bean soup

Before time Old Gramma say

                                                we praise your gift

                                                of buss’ laugh

                                                o St. De Lima

Before time Old Gramma say

                                                life short

                                                no close up

                                                before red hibiscus

Before time Old Gramma say

                                                waterfalls are rain

                                                trapped in purgatory

Before time Old Gramma say

                                                no trust one guy

                                                who no trust

                                                Filipinos

Before time Old Gramma say

                                                when the water brown

                                                go shop town

Before time Old Gramma say

                                                concrete & pavement

                                                always go come sunken

                                                from Pele

Before time Old Gramma say

                                                live for others

                                                like you are ʻulu

Before time Old Gramma say

                                                the land is in our care

                                                the cost of immigrating

                                                to real life heaven