M.G. Martin

poem for sister in the air

in the language

of stars

years grow into seconds

you didn’t leave, just became invisible

           to live in a small way

  leaving behind what grows

after the heart no can, movement continues

        nothing ever really pau

constantly in a state of vaporization

          until the point of gold

you taste the light

you wear hapuʻu fern in your hair

mauna uses time as a ladder

to awaken in the snow closest to the sun

is the reason light fills our eyes

taking the darkness out of the center

making space for the unknown

meteors falling closer to the home

eventually we return to & as water

until we are completely chromatic

M.G. Martin

dear sister

dear sister,

there isn’t a way for a waterfall

to retrace its steps. bumbye

no mo’ feet just like you

& everything above your feet, too.

k den,

me

dear sister,

you gave no fu*ks, but i was

always liddle bit cry baby.

please come back & slap my head.

i like feel you even as pain.

k den,

me

dear sister,

the last time we spoke, you asked

if ihu was ok & if T was taking

care me. i should have known then.

to answer your question: yes.

k den,

me

dear sister,

if would reformulate your body

i would put da head back

on top your Barbie doll, guarantee.

i was just one garoot making trouble.

k den,

me

dear sister,

mom stay rescuing da neighborhood

baby chickens. you would love it.

ho, da cute, even though: most times

they go to live witchu.

k den,

me

dear sister,

mahalo nui for waking me

on mornings when the sky

is one basket of lēhua blossoms.

k den,

me

dear sister,

since you went drought

yourself from vision, my bones

no can process guava.

sister, i don’t remember sweet.

k den,

me

dear sister,

ova ten years already.

how can?

k den,

me

dear sister,

i like shrivel into the insai

of one envelope & mail myself

into your unknown. where

you stay?

k den,

me