Colonization

Across the ocean came seeds and bugs and birds
bringing greenery and life
anger and strife

Across the ocean came the menehune
bringing taro and breadfruit and stone walls
dogs and pigs and fishhooks

Across the ocean came the ali'i
bringing structure and order and strength
kapu and war and human sacrifice

Across the ocean came the explorers
bringing cattle and metal
disease and guns and civilization

Across the ocean came the whalers
bringing wealth and ships
mosquitoes and stormy death

Across the ocean came the missionaries
bringing a strange god and literacy
sexual repression and children who knew how to make money

Across the ocean came the sugar planters
bringing wealth and wonderful new people
a need to rule and environmental devastation

Across the ocean came the us military
bringing ships and security
explosives and poisons

Across the ocean came sam clemens and jack london
bringing their keen minds and hearts
a fantasy of paradise islands in the ocean

Across the ocean came the territory
bringing the rule of a new law
and more power for the same old people

Across the ocean came the japanese fighters
bringing the failed promise of a new era
violent death and martial law

Across the ocean came the state
bringing democracy at last
and one-party rule for the other party

Across the ocean came the jet
bringing tourists and wealth
tall hotels and busy airports

Across the ocean came I