Poem: "With Dignity and Honor"
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ysabetwordsmithThis poem is spillover from the October 4, 2022 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired by a prompt from janetmiles. It also fills the "Honor System" square in my 10-1-22 card for the Fall Festival Bingo. This poem has been sponsored by a pool with fuzzyred. It belongs to the Big One thread of the Polychrome Heroics series.
"With Dignity and Honor"
[Friday, June 24, 2016]
After the death of Granny Whammy,
Valor's Widow had been named her heir.
It had meant a hectic couple of weeks
sorting through Granny Whammy's notes
about superpowers and people who had
them -- which were more extensive than
anyone had realized -- as well as reviewing
SPOON and what changes it might need.
Finally Valor's Widow managed to get away
from the people who wanted her attention.
She did what she usually did when she
felt a need for guidance and inspiration.
She made a visit to New Zealand.
First Valor's Widow went to Tuhuru,
a Ngati Waewae ancestral house
based at Arahura, near Hokitika,
on the West Coast of New Zealand.
She had heard about the Wāhine Toa,
a group of five girls who refused to let
cape politics get in the way of friendship.
They met her at the entrance, where
they danced the wero challenge together.
Anahera was the superhera, who had
Athletic Powers and led the group.
Bands of tā moko around her ankles
announced her physical skills and
her love of fresh challenges.
Just behind her was Emere,
a supervillain and climate activist.
The tā moko around her ankles
showed off her warrior skills.
Next, Iraia was a supernary.
She was a fisher who had
tā moko down her left arm
of the sea, a fish hook, and
various types of fish that stood
for wealth, knowledge, and power.
In the back were two nary girls.
Tall and sturdy, Jessica Smith
worked in the local forests while
Nicole Wilson was still in high school.
They stamped their feet and they
shook their long wooden spears.
They bared their teeth and
they stuck out their tongues
in ferocious expressions.
It was an impressive display.
Valor's Widow assured them
that she had come in peace.
After the dance, the girls
all swarmed around her,
asking questions about
different superpowers.
Valor's Widow answered
them as best she could.
In return she said, "How
did all of you manage
to stay friends despite
the cape politics?"
Anahera shrugged.
"We care more about
each other than we do
about politics," she said.
"We've known each other
our whole lives," Jessica said.
"That'd be a lot to give up."
Valor's Widow wondered if
there were ways to increase
interactions among superkids.
Maybe that would encourage
more cross-cape friendships.
She sat in on the meetings
where people had invited her,
talking about various ways that
societies handled superpowers.
New Zealand had been watching
the Maldives closely, and was
considering whether to reach out
to attract some cargo teleporters.
"If you're going to do that, do it now,"
Valor's Widow advised them. "Currently
the Maldives is the only place offering
great jobs for cargo teleporters and
showing real admiration, so that's
where a lot of them are moving if
they're not attached to a home."
"We have a tradition of cargo canoes,"
one grandfather pointed out. "We
thought we could build on that."
"Good plan," said Valor's Widow.
"I'll gladly help you find contacts.
Anything built on cultural tradition
has a pretty good chance of working."
The Maori excelled at that, from
haka mana to using tā moko
instead of the usual costumes.
Valor's Widow also shared
her own ideas for adapting
SPOON to cover a wider range
of services beyond its prior focus
on volunteer superheroes.
"Naku te rourou nau te rourou
ka ora ai te iwi," the elders said
to her. With your basket and
my basket the people will live.
"He waka eke noa," she said
with a little bow. A canoe which
we are all in with no exception
Now if she could just get
the rest of the world
to acknowledge that.
As long as Valor's Widow
was in the country, she
wanted to visit Wellington,
which was the cultural as
well as political capital.
She enjoyed wandering
through the city to see
the art galleries, museums,
and beautiful green parks.
She also loved getting
to nibble her way down
the rows of carts selling
delicious street foods.
Her favorite place was
a hāngī pit that had a set
of earth ovens designed
for cooking feast food.
Valor's Widow usually
ordered the kai moana
seafood feast with oysters,
abalone, and mussels
topped with kūmara root.
Today it even came with
rēwena bread, made from
potatoes and fermented
for extra tangy flavor.
While Valor's Widow
was savoring her meal,
a friend sat down on
the bench facing her.
Irirangi Tai was a big man
with tattoos that covered
his face and shoulders.
For years he had served
as the Tohunga Tā Moko,
a traditional tattoo artist.
Irirangi also had a knack
for belonging, and he could
use his influence to bring
people into or out of a group.
That was why they had met,
and Valor's Widow was still
studying how he did that.
"It's good to see you,
my friend," said Irirangi.
"I heard that you were in
town and hoped to find you.
What brings you here?"
"Kua hinga te totara i te
wao nui a Tane," she said.
The totara tree has fallen in
the forest of Tane. "I needed
some relaxation and inspiration
after Granny Whammy's funeral.
She made me her heir, and
I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed."
Irirangi nodded. "Ka pū te ruha,
ka hao te rangatahi," he replied.
As an old net withers, a new one
is made. "We will miss her wisdom,
but you will do great things in turn."
"I'm glad one of us feels confident,"
said Valor's widow. "I'm fantasizing
about disappearing into the bush."
"No, no, that would be terrible,"
said Irirangi. "Ki te kahore he
whakakitenga ka ngaro te iwi."
Without foresight or vision
the people will be lost.
She couldn't really
argue with that one.
Valor's Widow had seen
what a lack of leadership
could do, or worse, the harm
that was done by a bad leader.
"You're right, of course," she said.
"It's just all so ... much, all at once.
Trying to find solutions that work
for everyone is quite a challenge."
"Perhaps I can help with that,"
said Irirangi. "We have tā moko
to help us find our way, to show
others who we are and what
we do. I have been thinking
that the right tattoo could do
the same for you -- and you
have more than earned it."
"What kind of tattoo?"
Valor's Widow wondered,
looking at the bold swirls
that defined his face. "I'm
not sure that I would want
anything too elaborate."
"Ah, that's the beauty of
tā moko," said Irirangi.
"They can start out small
and simple, then grow
with your achievements."
"That sounds more doable,"
said Valor's Widow. "I know
that the different symbols mean
things. What would you suggest?"
"Women wear marks on the chin
to show they have speaking rights,"
said Irirangi. "I suggest starting
there, with just three simple lines.
After all, you speak for everyone."
That was exactly what she wanted
to do, speak for naries, supernaries,
and soups alike. Maybe it would
help to have a visible sign of that.
"I'm tempted," she admitted, "but
not everyone feels the same about
body art. You haven't ever regretted
your tattoos, even dealing with foreigners?"
"The tā moko is the most precious thing
that I have done to my body," said Irirangi.
"I wear mine with dignity and honor."
"That makes sense," said Valor's Widow.
"Personally, though, I don't know ...
it seems like a really big change."
"It is, and it should be," he replied.
"Take your time, think about it, I won't
be insulted. You've spent a lot of time
here, but you didn't grow up with us,
so of course it's different for you."
The question was how different.
She really had visited often, studying
how to integrate superpower into society;
but every time she left, she would have
to deal with the attitudes of other cultures.
On the other hand, the Maori were one
of the most successful cultures when it
came to integrating superpowers.
The Wāhine Toa were proof of that.
It was the kind of success that
Valor's Widow wanted for SPOON.
"I think you're right," she said.
"I'll take your offer, with gratitude.
I need all the help I can get. I
have a huge job ahead of me."
"Whāia te iti kahurangi ki te
tūohu koe me he maunga teitei,"
said Irirangi. Seek the treasure
you value most dearly: if you bow
your head, let it be to a lofty mountain.
"Come to my studio at your convenience."
"I can come this afternoon," she said.
"The sooner it's done, the sooner
people can get used to seeing it."
"Do you prefer traditional or
modern methods?" said Irirangi.
"I'm experienced with both."
"Traditional," said Valor's Widow.
"If I'm doing this, I'm doing it right."
Irirangi smiled at her, the lines
of his tā moko framing and
emphasizing his expression.
"I am sure you will wear it
with dignity and honor."
It made her feel hopeful.
* * *
Notes:
This poem is long, so its character and content notes appear separately.
janetmiles. It also fills the "Honor System" square in my 10-1-22 card for the Fall Festival Bingo. This poem has been sponsored by a pool with fuzzyred. It belongs to the Big One thread of the Polychrome Heroics series."With Dignity and Honor"
[Friday, June 24, 2016]
After the death of Granny Whammy,
Valor's Widow had been named her heir.
It had meant a hectic couple of weeks
sorting through Granny Whammy's notes
about superpowers and people who had
them -- which were more extensive than
anyone had realized -- as well as reviewing
SPOON and what changes it might need.
Finally Valor's Widow managed to get away
from the people who wanted her attention.
She did what she usually did when she
felt a need for guidance and inspiration.
She made a visit to New Zealand.
First Valor's Widow went to Tuhuru,
a Ngati Waewae ancestral house
based at Arahura, near Hokitika,
on the West Coast of New Zealand.
She had heard about the Wāhine Toa,
a group of five girls who refused to let
cape politics get in the way of friendship.
They met her at the entrance, where
they danced the wero challenge together.
Anahera was the superhera, who had
Athletic Powers and led the group.
Bands of tā moko around her ankles
announced her physical skills and
her love of fresh challenges.
Just behind her was Emere,
a supervillain and climate activist.
The tā moko around her ankles
showed off her warrior skills.
Next, Iraia was a supernary.
She was a fisher who had
tā moko down her left arm
of the sea, a fish hook, and
various types of fish that stood
for wealth, knowledge, and power.
In the back were two nary girls.
Tall and sturdy, Jessica Smith
worked in the local forests while
Nicole Wilson was still in high school.
They stamped their feet and they
shook their long wooden spears.
They bared their teeth and
they stuck out their tongues
in ferocious expressions.
It was an impressive display.
Valor's Widow assured them
that she had come in peace.
After the dance, the girls
all swarmed around her,
asking questions about
different superpowers.
Valor's Widow answered
them as best she could.
In return she said, "How
did all of you manage
to stay friends despite
the cape politics?"
Anahera shrugged.
"We care more about
each other than we do
about politics," she said.
"We've known each other
our whole lives," Jessica said.
"That'd be a lot to give up."
Valor's Widow wondered if
there were ways to increase
interactions among superkids.
Maybe that would encourage
more cross-cape friendships.
She sat in on the meetings
where people had invited her,
talking about various ways that
societies handled superpowers.
New Zealand had been watching
the Maldives closely, and was
considering whether to reach out
to attract some cargo teleporters.
"If you're going to do that, do it now,"
Valor's Widow advised them. "Currently
the Maldives is the only place offering
great jobs for cargo teleporters and
showing real admiration, so that's
where a lot of them are moving if
they're not attached to a home."
"We have a tradition of cargo canoes,"
one grandfather pointed out. "We
thought we could build on that."
"Good plan," said Valor's Widow.
"I'll gladly help you find contacts.
Anything built on cultural tradition
has a pretty good chance of working."
The Maori excelled at that, from
haka mana to using tā moko
instead of the usual costumes.
Valor's Widow also shared
her own ideas for adapting
SPOON to cover a wider range
of services beyond its prior focus
on volunteer superheroes.
"Naku te rourou nau te rourou
ka ora ai te iwi," the elders said
to her. With your basket and
my basket the people will live.
"He waka eke noa," she said
with a little bow. A canoe which
we are all in with no exception
Now if she could just get
the rest of the world
to acknowledge that.
As long as Valor's Widow
was in the country, she
wanted to visit Wellington,
which was the cultural as
well as political capital.
She enjoyed wandering
through the city to see
the art galleries, museums,
and beautiful green parks.
She also loved getting
to nibble her way down
the rows of carts selling
delicious street foods.
Her favorite place was
a hāngī pit that had a set
of earth ovens designed
for cooking feast food.
Valor's Widow usually
ordered the kai moana
seafood feast with oysters,
abalone, and mussels
topped with kūmara root.
Today it even came with
rēwena bread, made from
potatoes and fermented
for extra tangy flavor.
While Valor's Widow
was savoring her meal,
a friend sat down on
the bench facing her.
Irirangi Tai was a big man
with tattoos that covered
his face and shoulders.
For years he had served
as the Tohunga Tā Moko,
a traditional tattoo artist.
Irirangi also had a knack
for belonging, and he could
use his influence to bring
people into or out of a group.
That was why they had met,
and Valor's Widow was still
studying how he did that.
"It's good to see you,
my friend," said Irirangi.
"I heard that you were in
town and hoped to find you.
What brings you here?"
"Kua hinga te totara i te
wao nui a Tane," she said.
The totara tree has fallen in
the forest of Tane. "I needed
some relaxation and inspiration
after Granny Whammy's funeral.
She made me her heir, and
I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed."
Irirangi nodded. "Ka pū te ruha,
ka hao te rangatahi," he replied.
As an old net withers, a new one
is made. "We will miss her wisdom,
but you will do great things in turn."
"I'm glad one of us feels confident,"
said Valor's widow. "I'm fantasizing
about disappearing into the bush."
"No, no, that would be terrible,"
said Irirangi. "Ki te kahore he
whakakitenga ka ngaro te iwi."
Without foresight or vision
the people will be lost.
She couldn't really
argue with that one.
Valor's Widow had seen
what a lack of leadership
could do, or worse, the harm
that was done by a bad leader.
"You're right, of course," she said.
"It's just all so ... much, all at once.
Trying to find solutions that work
for everyone is quite a challenge."
"Perhaps I can help with that,"
said Irirangi. "We have tā moko
to help us find our way, to show
others who we are and what
we do. I have been thinking
that the right tattoo could do
the same for you -- and you
have more than earned it."
"What kind of tattoo?"
Valor's Widow wondered,
looking at the bold swirls
that defined his face. "I'm
not sure that I would want
anything too elaborate."
"Ah, that's the beauty of
tā moko," said Irirangi.
"They can start out small
and simple, then grow
with your achievements."
"That sounds more doable,"
said Valor's Widow. "I know
that the different symbols mean
things. What would you suggest?"
"Women wear marks on the chin
to show they have speaking rights,"
said Irirangi. "I suggest starting
there, with just three simple lines.
After all, you speak for everyone."
That was exactly what she wanted
to do, speak for naries, supernaries,
and soups alike. Maybe it would
help to have a visible sign of that.
"I'm tempted," she admitted, "but
not everyone feels the same about
body art. You haven't ever regretted
your tattoos, even dealing with foreigners?"
"The tā moko is the most precious thing
that I have done to my body," said Irirangi.
"I wear mine with dignity and honor."
"That makes sense," said Valor's Widow.
"Personally, though, I don't know ...
it seems like a really big change."
"It is, and it should be," he replied.
"Take your time, think about it, I won't
be insulted. You've spent a lot of time
here, but you didn't grow up with us,
so of course it's different for you."
The question was how different.
She really had visited often, studying
how to integrate superpower into society;
but every time she left, she would have
to deal with the attitudes of other cultures.
On the other hand, the Maori were one
of the most successful cultures when it
came to integrating superpowers.
The Wāhine Toa were proof of that.
It was the kind of success that
Valor's Widow wanted for SPOON.
"I think you're right," she said.
"I'll take your offer, with gratitude.
I need all the help I can get. I
have a huge job ahead of me."
"Whāia te iti kahurangi ki te
tūohu koe me he maunga teitei,"
said Irirangi. Seek the treasure
you value most dearly: if you bow
your head, let it be to a lofty mountain.
"Come to my studio at your convenience."
"I can come this afternoon," she said.
"The sooner it's done, the sooner
people can get used to seeing it."
"Do you prefer traditional or
modern methods?" said Irirangi.
"I'm experienced with both."
"Traditional," said Valor's Widow.
"If I'm doing this, I'm doing it right."
Irirangi smiled at her, the lines
of his tā moko framing and
emphasizing his expression.
"I am sure you will wear it
with dignity and honor."
It made her feel hopeful.
* * *
Notes:
This poem is long, so its character and content notes appear separately.
(no subject)
Date: 2024-02-04 06:15 am (UTC)I fell in love with Aotearoa when we traveled there in fall 2022... This hooks me behind the breastbone.
Thank you!
Date: 2024-02-04 07:09 am (UTC):D
>> I fell in love with Aotearoa when we traveled there in fall 2022... <<
You are so lucky to see it in person. It is a beautiful and magical place with so many unique creatures.
>> This hooks me behind the breastbone.<<
I'm glad you found it so moving.
Check the notes, I put links to some of the earlier New Zealand poems.