The Queen Takes Up Her Pen

I sit at my desk
under arrest in my home
the palace built
by my brother, King Kalaukaua
in the bedroom where
Princess Kaiulani died
in my arms.

She was to be queen after me.

While my people gather
they call for me
and are shot by American Marines
sent by their Congress
and President Cleveland
who once held Kaiulani's hand
and gave his word
to honor her claim.

But she is gone now and so are his promises.

The new governor
Sanford Dole --
Hawaii never saw a snake
before he was born
son of missionaries
sugar plantation mogul
trusted advisor to kings --
Dole tells me I must abdicate
abdicate and bring peace
to the Islands
by vacating
a non-existent throne.

I point to the throne room and raise my brow.

Why should I speak to him?
That merchant
that sweet-tongued reptile
out of the fallen Eden
his parents taught my parents of
that coward
that Judas
who rises up against his queen.

Tonight I decide.

The papers lie before me.
All they require is my signature
Liliokalani, Regina
no more.
One sweep of this pen
and I betray my ancestors
my dead brother
lay my sweet niece
and all those brave people,
their blood soaking the earth
to rest.

I turn to another
page and write Aloha Oe,
Farewell to Thee.

And then I sign.



May Kuroiwa
Poetry class assignment: write a persona poem.