To An Oceanic Artist-Gone Too Soon
(For Tuilagi Seiuli Allan Alo)
by Sia Figel
Ua maliliu toa
Ua maumau ai auupega o le taua
Warriors have fallen
And with them, the weapons of war
Today we are summoned by the Heavens
Today the skies have been split in two
Today the clouds wander aimlessly
Under a blood red Sun
A fallen Moon
And silent constellations that have lost their luster
Where is our blazing star?
Our radiant light of Hope?
Our fearless two-spirited warrior
That set Oceania on fire
And burnt the dance of life
Into our Pacific imagination
Brother of our hearts
Friend of our souls
Our matai---our Mama-teacher
Son of Vaisala--ua tafea le tauofe
Ua sola le tofa
Aue!
The birds of dawn, manu ole vaveao
Have heard our grief
They have travelled far and wide
To comfort us
But the joy on their tongues has disappeared
Swallowed by the silence of the Night
That has tasted the pools of salt
In our grief-stricken eyes
Each of us has a story
Each of us has a long tale
Cocooned in our memory
Of your colorful contradictions
Lived with wild authenticity
Your demanding ways of perfection
Your pains and perpetual passions
Your fiery brilliance
Your loud flamboyance
Your quiet humility
And that infectious laugh that could be heard all the way from Suva
Auckland, Oslo, Singapore, South Africa, Honolulu, Apia
Filled with the flames of love you gave so freely
What a privilege for us to have known you, dearest
Your loyalty
Your determination
Your warrior spirit
Your heart
Grateful always
Even when the Cancer ate at the lines of your pea
You simply smiled
That gorgeous smile
That refused to give in
And fought till the very end
Come now dear friend
Come now dearest one
It is time to go
May your journey to the ancestors
Be as joyous
As our time here on this precious Earth
There are many stories yet to be told
Many poems yet to be written
Many dances yet to be choreographed
And danced and danced and danced
Across this great blue ocean
By a new generation inspired
By the light of your life
That radiated for us all
May the infinity of Atua
Embrace us in these dark days
As we seek solace in their alofa
As we say farewell, to you our beloved Feleni
Our forever young Oceanic artist
In perpetual light
And love
Ia manuia lau malaga Ailani
Tofa, tofa, tofa ia.