I am from
a poem from a Native perspective
I'm from tangled hair sun licked and snarled
damp cheeks kissed by the ocean's lips
sandy skin toasted by loving days rays
thick muddied toes and sweet honey grins
I am from laughter
from tide pools
from clay
and from mountains
from lava
from rain
from forests
from fountains
I am from Hāloa I
hold my roots firm and proud
I'm from the ever watchful moon
from sunny people of the isles
of the deep and noble sky and
its treasured veils of lights
from tall crests and long canoes
rolling waters wild and smooth
I breathe with my ancestors
walk with their cultured pearls
bow my head for these blessings
thankful home is still here
* * *
I am from
Native displacement
cold encampments on pavements
from two jobs exhaustion outpriced overbought and
from gentrified fetishized plagiarized genocide
yet I am still here
oh yes we are still here
© M.Lee, All rights reserved
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'20/20'
"Do It Again" the track that would ultimately open the Beach Boys final album on Capitol Records which was released on February 10th 1969 had originally been released as a single in August of 1968. The track was the first of many post-Pet Sounds era throwbacks to the early Beach Boys sound which would become continually more cliched and eventually lead the Beach Boys to the level of self-parody they would eventually succumb to in the 1980s while their closest contemporaries The Beatles nearing the end of their run in 1969 would go on to be viewed as the most influential band of all time. However, the song itself is not bad on its surface, and it opens with a futuristic sounding (for 1969) drumbeat captured by then-Beach Boys engineer Stephen Desper using tape delays on the drums performed by Dennis Wilson and John Guerin. The song has been re-recorded numerous times over the years on various Beach Boys-related projects most notably the 2011 re-recording at Capitol studios featuring the five surviving Beach Boys at the time backed instrumentally by various members of both the Brian Wilson Band and Mike Loves touring "Beach Boys" to promote the then upcoming Beach Boys 50th Anniversary reunion tour in 2012. The hammering and power drill sound at the end of the song was an excerpt from a track called "Workshop" that was to be a part of the uncompleted "SMiLE" album.
By Sean Callaghan5 days ago in Beat
Comments (6)
Stunning! Yes. You and your ancestors are still here and this was an amazing tribute to them and all indigenous people around the earth.
Your poem paints such a vivid and heartfelt picture of what it means to be ‘from’ something not just geographically, but culturally, spiritually, and emotionally. The imagery of the land and the ancestors is so rich and alive, and the ending leaves such an impression of strength and resilience. It’s a beautiful meditation on heritage, survival and pride.
This is a very powerful poem. I’m very grateful Native people are still here.
Descendants of muddied paths recognize one another, kindred souls feeling the souls of those gone before. This is truly born from knowing. Congrats.
Great
This is so powerful!