Chant for O’ahu Birth Rocks

I did not capture your palace or steal your sunstruck gold. I did not force your people’s spines to bend until they cracked in cane fields or die with parched tongues and fever:

I came with parchment and messages of hope, I came to love and be loved. I came to plant a tiny garden, and laugh while steaming laulaus… I came to answer parrots and call to sparrows. I asked for nothing but some time to talk…