Maori Oceanic Poetry from Year of The Poet (Vol 60)
Featured in The Year of the Poet December, 2018 Volume 60.
Richly Textured Peace
“Whakaturi” a richly textured Maori word
one meaning is obstinate
to be unyielding or stubborn
turn a deaf ear
or pay no attention
Giving the impression of a spoiled child
or arrogant man
a busy woman too harried to listen
A second meaning is to mollify
make peace with
or appease
as if we can make peace without paying attention
or perhaps find peace by clinging stubbornly to life
The third meaning wrapped into this word
“whakaturi” is a love token or a keepsake
something we hold to unyieldingly
or would give anything
to hold onto the love and peace it represents
“Whakaturi” we have a choice
how we see the world
through the eyes of a stubborn child
peacemaker
or a giver of gifts
Finding Self Surrounded In Peace
In Niuean spoken on Niue Island
the Rock of Polynesia
coral land in the midst of the South Pacific
“Loto” means inside
within
between
“Lotoloto” amongst or in the middle of
in the heart of desire
is “fakalotomafola”
“mafola” peace
to be at peace in one’s heart or mind
“Fakalotomafola” also to appease
“to fakalotoma fola e au a ia ke he mena fakaalofa”
“I will appease him with a present”
or give myself the gift of peace
“Kia fakalotomafola a koe”
to be at peace with yourself
as if to give yourself a peace gift
surrounding yourself with peace
finding yourself within
#2 New Zealand Just Behind Iceland in
Peace
10 years
New Zealand never slipping below
4th almost perfect marks
Global Peace Index
top marks in health status
above average education jobs and earnings
yet the gap between rich and poor
distressing 20% of New Zealand’s 4.7 million citizens
Peace “rangimārie” in Maori
some people say starts with a smile
but ask anyone who lives
in peaceful countries
it is the other way around
Peaceful nations enjoy
lower interest rates
stronger currency
higher foreign investment
better political stability
greater perceived happiness
The economic impact of violence
quantifiable $14.76 trillion in 2017
12.4% of total global gross domestic product
about $1,988 per person on this spinning planet
almost 20 percent of the average world citizen’s yearly
income
Says the Institute for Economics and Peace
of 163 independent states and territories
99.7% of the world’s population
23 indicators
societal safety and security
a peek at ongoing domestic and international conflicts
degree of militarization
Global peace is declining
making the world less peaceful
compared to any time in the last decade
refugee numbers skyrocketing
1% of the world population
highest level in modern history
and the United States drops seven spots to 121st
well behind Iceland (1) where peace is call “friður”
New Zealand (2)
Cuba (81) and China (114)
a little too close to the least peaceful country in the world
Syria (163) seriously lacking in “salām”
Originally published in The Year of The Poet (Vol 60) at http://www.innerchildpress.com/the-year-of-the-poet.php on December 1, 2018.
