Friday, March 9, 2007

Instructions for buying boat ticket


Go to TALO, Tokelau Apia Liaison Office.
That's in Apia.
Ask for a ticket to Fakaofo.

A woman called Tasha will say,
not without a letter from Hemona.
Say sorry, Hemona says it's fine.

Hemona doesn't do letters.
Tasha will frown and say
you can only stay 24 hours.

Say thank you and sorry
for the trouble I caused.
Say, I will only stay 24 hours.

Get on boat.
Get off at Fakaofo.
Stay three weeks. Or two.
Or anyway, till the boat comes back.

Saturday, March 3, 2007

Jandals on the line

Going to Tokelau
you practise
wearing jandals.

Mine sport diamonds
(not) and a stiff
white sole.

Trip over mats.
Thump like a herd of piglets
on the stairs.

Geoff's patient stole
one yellow one
by mistake.