B.
I belong to Oceania, like Albert by Danielle O'Halloran
Note
Danielle O'Halloran reads her own poem, I belong to Oceania, like Albert, written in response to the exhibition Te Wheke: Pathways Across Oceania at Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū
Birthday Present (wood/ paint) Artist credits: Russell Thyne, Solomon Luke Ihonui Vasa Davis and Masina O'Halloran-Thyne.
OOOSH…
Like Destiny man
up Kangen water vaccinated
now they’re comin for our crypto
we gonna digital print our own
whānau currency...
…‘EA…
Like where,
solofanua moana
moving fast past the land
running wild in the hills
bellyful
of Samoan Māoli
Chinese German
Irish English
babies
O ai ‘ea’ oe?
- Who are you?
the horses and the ocean ask.
‘E
- I’m here, I call...
…NIA…
Like that Tongan
school counsellor
open-hearted to the suffering of
those ali’is anxious gids
high functioning
emergencies...
…IA…
Like he she or they pronouns
in most of our languages
like my cuz’s charcoal lids and glitter cheeks
on the work zui, the zono
and our Facebook chat
where we belong, Oceania,
hey fanks Albert.