Hawaiian Fixture
Expecting the unexpected-
She had that clear-
Little to no fear-
On to the island she went-
To find the answers about herself-
Drained and completely spent-
Then you came into the picture-
My cherub-
My sweet sprite-
Hawaiian fixture-
My heart wants to love again-
What have we started here?
What are we saying to each other?
Unspoken scripture?
You’re in the picture-
My cherub-
Sweet sprite-
Hawaiian fixture-
Our bodies have consumed together-
Such fiery escalating passions-
We have dialogue-
Funny, sweet conversation-
We speak deeply in our touch-
Our eyes-
Intoxicating rapture-
We’re creating the picture-
My cherub-
Sweet sprite-
Hawaiian fixture-
No matter what path we take-
My Kauaiian kepena-
Aloha, to the future-
My enchanting Hawaiian fixture-
What awaits us?
Who knows-
I’m enjoying this moment-
My ipo, kumu-
She finishes the picture-
And gleams with delight-
Sacred place-
Sweet sprite-
Forever in this picture-
My lover-
My Hawaiian fixture-

-- Faith Harding

Not A Quiet Girl 2/2003

I’m not nor will I ever be a quiet girl-
I stopped my brother’s hockey game with my piercing shrill-
I’m LOUD-
I love concerts-
Without a doubt-
No, I’ll never be a quiet girl-
I’ve got a mouth-
Yelling-
It gives me such a thrill-
Speaking voice is bombastic-
Crude, rude-
Laughing LOUD-
Is SO fantastic-
I don’t want to be a quiet girl-
I want to be noticed-
I want to be pointed at-
I love it when people turn around and say, “SHHHHH!”
Volume goes up-
I can’t help but be sarcastic-
I love it LOUD-
Music-
Linguistics-
Booming in my ears-
My voice IS the one that stands out in the crowd-
Nope-
I’ll never be a quiet girl-
I like my voice-
LOUD AND PROUD-
My conscious choice-
Football and fans-
LOUD-
It’s awesome-
I’m usually around other LOUD people-
Incredible LOUD sounds-
Hollering-
Shrieking banshee-
Bass thumping-
Xena Warrior-
I do fancy-


I won’t ever be a quiet girl-
I am the sparking LOUD jewel-
Not tacky-
Maybe tawdry-
Definitely tempting-
Like a big oyster pearl-
I’m not the quiet girl-
I’m LOUD-
Even when I try to be quiet-
Shut-up-
I just don’t do-
Quiet-
I’m too much of a riot-
A card-
A trip-
A pill-
No, I’ll never the quiet girl-

-- Faith Harding

Aina, The Land, The Earth

If you’ve never been to this island and you find yourself willing here//
Something has called to you, drawing you near//
Mother Gai has given this world so many exotic places of intense beauty and sacred places//
Kaua’i, the ‘aina, truly aloha spirit, when I walk about, I can feel it//
From Polihale and Barking Sands//
Waimea’s grand effects to Koke’e’s cool climate//
Hanapepe’s art district and ‘Ele’ele’s quaint essence//
Pt. Allen’s small vessels, my favorite is Salt Ponds’ intense radiant sunsets//
South shore is where I reside, Omao means green, raining, raining nearly everyday//
Owl Bluff apartments, Kahili Mountains is my front door view//
I can see all the way to Po’ipu, my beach on South shore for sure//
Lots of people at the beach park, keikes playing, parties, food//
Monk seals and honus take a snooze//*
I love this particular part of the ‘aina, for here comes my ipo, he lives in Po’ipu too//
On his boat we went to Kipu Kai, to me, the most romantic beach on Kaua’i//
On to Nawiliwili and Kalipaki Beach, watch the Love Boats come in and go//
Lihu’e is our county seat//
Ahukini Landing very old and rickety where the ghost stories of sugar cane workers remains//
All over the ‘aina it is such a damn shame//
Wailua Falls, “de plane, de plane”, Fantasy Island, to be under the falls on a mahina piha//
Feeling the moani through your hair, naked under the na hoku, do I dare?//
Kapa’a town is East side hustle and bustle, sadly, I try not to go there//
Taro patches in Anahola, North shore begins to appear//
Kilauea Lighthouse is the beacon bright, whale watching is an incredible sight//
Princeville is money and with that comes haoles//
Hanalei Bay is my favorite North shore spot//
Lots of lush greenery, plumeria, birds of paradise, hibiscus, coconuts, mangos, bananas, macadamia nuts//
The Gods and Goddesses made paradise lost, for Na Pali Coast has taken lives, the ultimate cost//
Warriors’ tales, Hawaiian lore, give no exit to Kalalau Trail//
Na Pali is omnipotent, it shimmers with falls and crevices so deep//
The camel, the squirrel, Larry, Moe and Curly in the cliffs you see//
So, this is my tale of my ‘aina aloha//
I’ve found a perfect example, that this haole girl has only begun to sample//
The magnitude of the Hawaiian ‘aina, beginning here on Kaua’i-//
This island’s adventure has given to me a mystique of stillness//
Oneness with the isle, truly, I can only live pono and I am blessed//
Perhaps live to be an old wahine and have the ‘aina as my place of rest//


* I had just written this line and took a break and headed to the water for a dip. As I was headed toward the water, a monk seal was coming up out of the water to beach itself at Po’ipu. I had never witnessed that. I always see them beached but I had never encountered the seal coming out of the water. It was like he/she heard me!!!

-- Faith Harding