I Grew Up Speaking
I grew up speaking
the mother tongue
of a motherland
that has been no mother
to me
I dreamt of inhaling
soil through my toes
and out my mouth
and filing for emancipation
I arrived
kete depleted
at Tāwhirimātea’s feet
begging him to
fill these lungs
make me breathe again
peel back this dichotomy
of skin and sense,
remind me of where
I come from
He obliged
and whakapapa landed
like dying suns
against my cheeks
I heard the karanga
as the earth
cracked open
swallowing me
whole.