on kauai
no voice
fell from
my lips

on kauai
my eyes
watched
my heart
filled
on kauai,
the sacred
spoke
while i, silent
absorbed
every word

on kauai
my sistas
determined
our next
steps
sheltering
my shyness
protecting
my invisibility

on kauai
the island
gave me
access
to holiness
gifts of sea
gifts of ai’na

on kauai
i silently
accepted
cherished
while
tucking myself
inside
my omission
of mention

on kauai
i wandered
rocky paths
my footsteps
followed
leaving me
in warm sands
silently
where
i remained
absorbing
year after year
into skin
fiber

on kauai
through valleys
bookmarked with
a love
like no other
my longings
stayed
hand in hand
observing
in silence

on kauai
the valleys
fed me
the falls
washed
me clean
the sea
gave me strength
family
after family
gave me entrance
embraced
me
while i, mute
fell into
their arms

on kauai
i remained
in shadow
filled with
so much
love
gratitude
hope
sharing none
of my words
giving
all
of
my heart

on kauai
i found a
will
a need
like no other
to locate strength
to fight
angry circumstance
delivered by
the island’s
wrath

i accepted
allowing
unknown power
and word
to be rescued

resuscitated
i was then
able
to locate
a lost
formerly
silent
identity
re-entering
a different fold
eyes wide
with my discovery

with new
unfamiliar sound
i found
my laughter
my worth
mute
no more
i entered
a different kind
of world