Return to Guinaiya

Guinaiya bundled firmly within the intimate grasps of i mañaina Swaddled She lays Cooing Gently caressed i nene Munga man maleffa i guinaiyan mañaina yan i famagu’on Back and Forth the warmth of our taotaomo’na sway pulse Skin-to-skin keeping us close so that we recognize them in our dreams They pinch our stomachs. De’on i estomagun-niha Our arms Our calves Our memories—hinasson mami Leaving... Returning... Tracing marks of consciousness Return to Guinaiya. —let their presence be known —so magodai —so mahålang Return to guinaiya. Back and Forth the warmth of our guinaiya sways. Weaving centuries of survival through the earth’s core into i tasi—i tano—i aire’ Returning to guinaiya.