Leonard Fong Roka
In the 1960s when BCL
landed on Bougainville, the Kavarong River sucked all the dirt created upstream
in Panguna. In million tons per day it went down the river altering it old
beauty and bed. After the Bougainville conflict that shut the mine, the river is
now eroding its siltation in search of its original river bed as we watch. In
doing so, however, the Kavarong is changing the Banoni coastline from Matupina
to the Koiare area.
To fill the belly of the red-man from PNG and not my
Solomons
I could be proud if it were the Malaitans
That traded me duku for
my daughters
And dig my gems for the grooms in San Cristobal.
But my sons fought the looters of PNG and saved me
From the aliens that raped my virginity to a village spittle
Thus I am recuperating from agony of my lover’s rejection
Day by day I am weeping in search of my bed with my children
The sun pities me as I rummage the gravel lawns of mystery
The rain cries in mercy and my children help me
To search for my bed
Where I could rest forever and bless my people
Who have suffered and died for me
But we are digging and digging
Shipping the affluent to Marau that is crying
But I tell her not to cry; I will free myself and help her
out; so
Days and nights, we are digging history
Discovering new worlds that suffered
From the raping by aliens
We are digging
In search of my bed.
This is so very moving ... Love, cat.
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