Volcano Renshi Workshop: 'Olapa Renshi

'Olapa Renshi

From the envelope: “Eight hundred-fifty plus writers and artists”

Writers & Artists

My head is filled
850 voices
Clamoring to get out
To be heard
To be free
To make its mark
On readers unaware
Impatient
Living and dying
Seconds tick away
The din silent
As I pick up the pen
(Doodie Downs)

The Pen

As I pick up the pen
my mind wanders
outstretched hands — finger leaves respond
rain whispers a secret
filling me with hope
I dare
and put my pen to paper
capturing the mystery
of Life's unexpected gifts
running
through my fingers
photosynthesis — my journey
breathing new life
dripping with possibility
(Lisa Louise Adams)

Dripping with Possibility

Dripping with possibility
the hapu'u fern bows
to the red lehua

Shall we dance?
and lehua
shivers and shimmies
(Rochelle DelaCruz)

Shall We Dance?

Red lehua blossoms shiver and shimmies
dew drops crown the royal blossoms

Birds in brilliant plumage come to pay homage
partaking of her gifts
of sweet nectar.

Inviting them to imbibe
and take to dancing
in the air
(Joanne Yoshida)

Dancing in the air
the opaque mist hugs her.
'Olapa, her companion, lifts her face
shiny with dew.
Kupukupu, silver sage colored,
enjoys the heated mist as it
flows over the crater's edge.

This is the sacred time of sunrise.
When elements animate to
reveal the proclamation of timeless
boundaries for Pele.

Everything hugs Papahanaumoku,
stays close to her rhythm,
feels her mana.

The warmth rises to my face,
heating the words dripping richly
from my chanting lips.
(Kanani Aton)

*note: The "o" in 'olapa has a kahako over it. The 3rd "a" in Papahanaumoku also has a kahako (line) above it.