He'eia Fishpond Ballad

Inspired by Samuel Coleridge's classic nautical ballad "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner," my Literature of the Ocean class and I crafted a poem to commemorate our trip to an ancient Hawaiian fishpond. Each student composed one stanza, trying to stay true to the style, meter, and cadence of the mariner's tale. They laid out the stanzas one by one and arranged a narrative. Here is our He`eia Fishpond Ballad:

All photos by Kira Tamashiro

                                          Hawaiian's key to life -- working
                                          with the ocean to land
                                          provides for present and future
                                          connecting hand in hand.                 [Kelina Tongg-Woodall]

                                         Through the Ko'olaus we travel
                                         to the green east we go.
                                         Lessons to learn, stories for each
                                         of the past, much we'll know.                       [Anthony Isham]
                
                                         Together chanting loud and clear,
                                         We slowly start to see
                                         The landscape, pleasing to the eye,
                                         The calmest place to be.                                 [Taylor Kuroda]

                                        The wall of rocks passed one by one
                                        We walk on it today.
                                        Sustainable for centuries,
                                        The ancients knew the way.                             [Ms. Knoetgen]

                                         The pond provides us nutrients
                                         A gift from salty seas.
                                         Makaha allows fish to breathe
                                         the gentle ocean breeze.                             [Sarah Oyadomari]

                                         The ocean takes you in waist deep,
                                         a shiver jolts your spine.
                                         Small trembles of excitement near,
                                         but you make it -- just fine.                             [Melisa Kegans]

                                         The jagged rocks do graze our feet
                                         The pain that we endured.
                                         With caution students look for them
                                         In murky seas obscured.                                    [Miranda Yip]

                                       
                                         As Lupe swims around the reef
                                         he waits for those who steal.
                                         Those who do will perish for sure;
                                         they think he is not real.                                     [Josh Adachi]

                                         He glides beneath the water's top,
                                         The people unaware.
                                         If he sees danger near the pond,
                                         the poachers best beware.                                    [Evan Lum]

                                         Lupe drags the fisherman down.
                                        A harsh message to send;
                                        The lesson is taught by mano,
                                        This is truly the end.                                   [Keegan McCrary]

                                        The blood within the mangrove bleeds
                                        And yet we cut them down
                                        For they invade and crowd and kill
                                        the native plants around.                                   [Brendan Seto]

                                        I passed the muddy twigs to you
                                        we formed a heaping mound,
                                        and as the day continued on
                                        it fell down to the ground.                               [Ashley Osumi]

                                        Preservation of the land,
                                        for the coming generations.
                                        Cutting of the mangrove
                                        from the time of the plantations.                     [Chase Shimizu]

                                        Surrounded by invaders,
                                        The defenders purge the land.
                                        The importance of the 'aina
                                        is put into my hand.                                        [Tyler Takeuchi]

                                        A chain of rocks from mauka side,
                                        Passed hand by hand to sea.
                                        Now torn by roots of mangrove trees,
                                        Revived I wish it'd be.                                     [Maddie Moser]

                                       The chain of bodies flows along
                                       The green, suave immense.
                                       With dripping sweat for what belongs
                                       to them -- and people next.                                   [Nalu Josiah]

Thank you to our knowledgeable and entertaining guides, Kelii and Kanaloa, and a shout out to Mr. Stu Matsunami for driving the bus, the English Dept. for funding this field trip, Dr. Peter Webb for helping me marry Coleridge to the fishpond, Ms. Kira Tamashiro for coming with and taking pics, and Mrs. Allison Blankenship for starting the process of making it happen in the first place.