Vernal Equinox

sunrise Kupeke fish pond

The vernal equinox is officially March 19, 2020, but today March 14, 2020 in Hawaii, night and day are equal. The sun rose at 6:38 AM and set at 6:38 PM. Thus today, I will write my quarterly blog post.

First I need to take care of business:

My new address is PO Box 482139, Kaunakakai HI 96748

I have not moved, just a different box number

change comes slowly

on Moloka’i for sure

in cre men tal ly

My little home and I are well, but I’m very upset by Maui County closing our pool, well all the public pools. I need that exercise to keep fit. The forces of historic pandemic are not going to bend to my preferences. The state library has canceled all events, but remains open. I can cocoon through this with books and walking.

I started the year with a wonderful book of poetry, “An American Sunrise” by Joy Harjo, our current national poet laureate, and a member of the Muskogee Creek Nation from Oklahoma. If you like poetry be sure to read this. She also wrote “Crazy Brave”, her autobiography. It records a life of struggle and persistence. I have high regard for her and her work.

heron in harbor

I’ve read a number of books of personal struggles recently: “The Latehomecomer” by Kao Kalia Yang; “Girl, Woman, Other” by Bernardine Avaristo; “News of the World” by Paulette Jiles; “Death Is Hard Work” by Khalid Khalifa; “Kartography” by Kamila Shamsie. I’d recommend each and all. These books remind me of what an easy life I’ve had. I feel grateful and indebted. I am attempting to give back to the world with my art. It feels meager, but honest.

And if you like sci-fi check out N.K. Jemisin. I totally enjoyed her book of short stories “How Long ‘til Black Future Month?”

sunset Kaunakakai 

Last year I wrote this little poem

this May

may be my last May

or maybe not

Just playing around with words, but it’s been a good prompt to keep me working — both painting and writing. I did complete a short memoir, and currently working on a large (22” x 30”) painting.

Here is another of my poems, again, just playing around with words

NO WAY

Lead the way

get out of the way, 

show the way, 

my way, 

the only way, 

one way,

through way,

be the way, 

find a way, 

wrong way, 

in the way, 

see the way, 

highway, 

the long way,

the lonely way, 

on the way,

roadway, 

every which way,

walk away

this poem was waylaid

moonset Kaunakakai