By Lisa Kanani Sarish
Fire me for reading
for asking questions and finding out
Fire me for thinking
for taking issue for questioning clout
Please! Hire another colonizer!
he’ll smooth it over make it right
of squat, he’s seen and done it
his experience will be your might
Please! Hire another colonizer!
make sure he’s fat and sweats
connect him to your network
make sure he’s Proud of vets
ensure he has philosophy
from a people not his own
to soothe his fears from his founding
father never being home
shame will drive him to performance
Our language on your signs
to mark the trails you don’t return
to bring you peace of mind
you took from us our words
our medicine our land
you blessed us with the choice
of death or joining hands
Fire me for reading
in the key you gave us knew
for unlocking the fiefdom
for becoming sharp and shrew
Fire me for reading
I’ll collect the pyre’s wood
and we’ll work to build together
to advance the common good
She will Fire me like olivine,
like pōhaku pele ʻōmaʻo.
She will pour me out like rain
we’ve watched you and your weaknesses
and know the pink flab of your shame
Send for my termination
as you would my sister Maus
Fired stronger than the masters’ tools
we can indeed tear down the house
Lisa Kanani Sarish is working on a master’s degree in history. Although she currently resides in Pembroke, Maine, her roots are in Waimānalo, Oʻahu.
