This is a creative response to 'The Bush Kanaka Speaks' by Kumalau Tawali
One World. Two Worlds. Three worlds.
First World:
Car in the Garage
Brick in the road
Gun in the hand
Christ in the heart
Human in the culture
Second world:
Sand on the shore
Coconut in the tree
Kava in the belly
Tapa in the story
Human in the culture
Third World...
Is there?
Only around those who think there is.
One World. Two Worlds. Three worlds.
First World:
Car in the Garage
Brick in the road
Gun in the hand
Christ in the heart
Human in the culture
Second world:
Sand on the shore
Coconut in the tree
Kava in the belly
Tapa in the story
Human in the culture
Third World...
Is there?
Only around those who think there is.
Hi Liam,
ReplyDeleteInteresting work. The short, punchy sentences with their repetition, work well to create an insistent, aggressive voice, where the sound of the poem is as important as the content and images. Your response (to The Bush Kanaka Speaks) is a kind of distillation of the dialogue about the subject that the text engages in, swept clean of its specific characterization and voice, so the subject, the issues, are engaged with and kicked around.
Structural question: should the 'title' preceding the second stanza be 'first world?'
James G
Hi Liam,
ReplyDeleteI too like the 'brevity' of this poem - the short sharp 'notes', and its speed.
I see that these notes would be useful for the Kiap, and offer 'The Bush Kanaka's' perspective once again.
To me it is both more and less aggressive than the original.
More = to me sort of clearer, more direct + confrontational.
Less = it seems less of a 'personal' of 'individual' attack.
I agree with James about the "first world" line he mentions.
I was a bit confused by this after reading the "One World. Two Worlds. Three worlds" line.