A Bougainvillean

by Leonard Fong Roka

In the room...
be a Bougainvillean
In the dorm...
be a Bougainvillean
In the ablution...
be a Bougainvillean
In the mess...
be a Bougainvillean
In the class...
be a Bougainvillean
At study...
be a Bougainvillean
Oh soul brother. On the u'rungkasi lawns
be a Kawas
In the dusty bus cabins...
be a Kawas
In the illness pubs...
be a Kawas
Oh soul brother. In the church of New Guinea lies...
pray a Bougainvillean prayer
In sorrow...
shed a Bougainvillean tear
In joy...
dance a Bougainville kovii
In greeting...
give a Bougainvillean kiss
And in love...
surrender to the Bougainvillean
rising sun
On Bougainville, you were born...
then die in Bougainville
Oh soul brother, we were Bougainvilleans
dying in our Solomons from Western and New Guinea
money lust...
Oh soul brother,
let not your father break in tears
as it was in the genesis
of
agony.
Oh soul brother,
be a true lewa
KAWAS!