One of the notes to „Sourcing Siapo” of making Siapo, the traditional Samoan cloth, is “[i]t is women’s work only and it is very hard work” (Ava TaesaOne of the notes to „Sourcing Siapo” of making Siapo, the traditional Samoan cloth, is “[i]t is women’s work only and it is very hard work” (Ava Taesali 2016 ) January is the oldest daughter of ten siblings. Their mother remarried after raising seven children with her first, beloved by the offspring Samoan father. After divorce, father Tamā is forced to leave the family while the new partner reveals to be a ruthless and violent predator whom children call a “drunk.” Throughout the novel constructed in forms of poems, letters, and memoires, January tells the heartbreaking story of suffering, frustration, and imaginary world of hope which helps sibling to survive the hard times. November, January, March, May, August, June, September, October, July, and December always protect each other and even though from different fathers, never think of each other as half blood. The memories of January describe her family story from her childhood until the mother’s death followed by sorrow yet compassionate letters. Sourcing Siapo, the traditional Samoan piece of art remains the metaphor of complicated relationship of half-Caucasian and Samoan family where the indigenous culture symbolise home.
Ava Taesali, P. (2016). Sourcing Siapo. An Ala Press Offering....more
The colonization of Pacific Islands has left irreversible changes on language and culture of Pohnpei people in Micronesia. Through the first explorersThe colonization of Pacific Islands has left irreversible changes on language and culture of Pohnpei people in Micronesia. Through the first explorers’ invasions to modern tourism, the landscape and identity are the subject to constant changes and modifications. The battle between the westernized lifestyle and heritage cultivation is strongly visible in, for instance, “Like the Island.” The collection of poems is strong, vibrant, and brave treating the matters from perspective of likio “outsie” and Sapw Sarawi “spiritual powers” (Kihleng 2008 61). The first one is reflected through the metaphor of neglectable homicide of Chuukese child by a women in 2006 where the politicization of the poetry raises anger and frustration. On the other hand, the “Untitled” tells a touching story of relationship between the granddaughter who takes care of her grandfather in the hospital: “my hands rubbing p from under his heel up to his toes, neglected for so long brown, dry flakes fall off his foot on to my urohs and on to the tile floor in room 208 tears for the hplesness I feel when we’re together”
Kihleng, E. (2008). My Urohs. Kahuaomānoa Press...more
Tipani comprises the selected poems of Ian George, Christine Hatcher, Harry Ivaiti, Jon Jonassen, Kauraka Kauraka, Florence Syme, Makiuti Tongia, and Tipani comprises the selected poems of Ian George, Christine Hatcher, Harry Ivaiti, Jon Jonassen, Kauraka Kauraka, Florence Syme, Makiuti Tongia, and Manu Tutapu. The volume tackles complex problematics of racism “Racial Discrimination”, sense of belonging “Coral Beach”and “Home”, morality “My Dad”, nostalgy “Shell” and “When I Leave”, love ”Mother”, self-disclosure “I Walk”. The compositions such as “Ngapoko Bertram” convey the strong connection to origin and ancestry which form inseparable component of identity. The authors do not restrain from raising difficult matters of the pressure in between Global North and South “Forgotten Shelves” and tackle the issues caused by both Internal “Drunen Moods” and external factors “Service on Mangaia”, “Kia Orana”. The collection of poems encourage to observe and confront, react and response. Tipani could be briefly described by Jim W. Corder’s words, who said “[r]hetoric is love, and it must speak a commodious language, creating a world full of space and time that will hold our diversities” (1985, 31). “Harmony not prejudice”, by Christine Hatcher, is one of the volume’s poems which might be quoted to represent its overall character and aim to navigate through inequalities and calling for change:
Stop! blaming the colour God happened to find on his palette the morning of your birth. Imagine the monotony were we all the same
Look! beyond mere pigment to what people really are instead of condemning with prejudice and ignorance making fear you master.
Find! the antidote to this poison which kills compassion separates humans, cultures nurturing only sad losses denying the richness of knowledge.
Free! your mind from debilitating pollution. Yes! We are all different, unique- but let’s select only the best as gifts for our children (7)
Corder, J. W. (1985). Argument as Emergence, Rhetoric as Love. Rhetoric Review, 4(1), 16-32. Tongia, M., & Kauraka, K. (1991). Tipani: Poems of The Cook Islands. Tauranga Vananga. ...more
Na pewno przejmująca i niepokojąca już przez samą problematykę przewijającą się przez tom. Jest obnażająca lecz jak to w poezji napisana szyfrem znanyNa pewno przejmująca i niepokojąca już przez samą problematykę przewijającą się przez tom. Jest obnażająca lecz jak to w poezji napisana szyfrem znanym tyko autorowi....more
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