Hawai‘i Literature & Art
— Since 1978 —
Cooling In the shade, he sat enjoying his shave ice under a banyan tree, the sound of waves rolling on, the wrinkled ocean surface humming a calming rhythm of cool while the sun beat down hell around him. Global warming, he thought, remembering the days growing up when he could walk barefoot everywhere on a…
It is the perfect place, she said, No worries. I want to hide from people Who look at my artwork Yeah, that one about the knife in the guy’s temple With a hand smothering a scream, The hand tattoo says Smile. I am smothered by my image A good daughter, a good sister,…
Seize the day Open your eyes Express gratitude Roll out of bed Make the bed Do it now Breathe in, breathe out And stretch Drink that glass of water Use sunscreen Brush and floss Chat with the quiet student next to you Order that unfamiliar but tempting dish Take the plunge Finish that irritating project…
For the first time in a while, my back cradles this fragile new sun. My back also cradles our social contract, recently renewed three days ago: my end of the deal is two layers of spray-on sunscreen, and in return, I do not get sunburnt while tanning on my beach towel. Preserving our tacit agreement,…
I met the first one when I was seven. A classmate stole my pencil box, wouldn’t give it back; when the teacher’s back was turned, She yanked it from his desk. When he grabbed for it again, She smacked him with the box. The teacher came over. It was my word against his, and She…
On the Beach A steeple dynasty palm grows its spiked shadow umbrella over sand’s losing battle, washed out by thin skimming water. They scatter, some sink to darkness, shells living among the dead, their frantic dance to meet a god or holey shelter from it. Protection from everything that isn’t them and theirs, skitter like…
From the start, I knew it wasn’t meant to be, But my heart refused to listen and set itself free. It yearned for your touch, your smile, your kiss, While you remained oblivious to my love’s bliss. Days turned to weeks, and weeks to years, As I drowned in an ocean of unrequited tears….
Okay, it’s time to write for May. Let’s go 100 to 500 words. This month’s challenge is to use a line or sentence twice. Writing a poem? Use the same line as your first line and your last. Or repeat the line twice at the beginning or end. Or use it anywhere you like, so…