Helen Tionisio is a poet of Tokelau and Samoan heritage. Born in Lower Hutt, raised in Petone and currently living in Auckland , Helen attributes her writing influences are her extended family and cultural/working class upbringing.
My Father speaks 4 languages
My Father speaks 4 languages
Broken english, Bit of Samoa, Fluent in Tokelau and Laughter
He knows how to tickle the butterflies in my stomach
Reminds me to never be afraid to laugh at yourself
And when the life get hard – you laugh
…you know i went to the real estate today, had a look at some houses...
went inside to ask some more questions about a couple of them
you know what the agent say to me?
“you can't afford those houses”
and you know what i do?
i just laugh and walk out
Laughter not only is medicating
it's death defying
death deterring
death repelling
My Father speaks 4 languages
Speaks Broken English, Bit of Samoa,
Fluent in Tokelau and Laughter
And he's going to live forever.
On the edge
Stand
There
On the edge
Cliff tops
Bridges
Outskirts
Slums
Beaches
Housing projects
Reserves
Deserts
Atolls
Highlands
Highways
Urban
Rural
Inner Outer Edges
Though they
Push you
Pull you
Mar
Gin
All
Eyes
You
Ignore u
Rip u
Try 2
Waste u
Go ahead
Jump
Show them
Us
Coloureds
Know
How
2 Fly
We
Are
One
With
Water
With
Sky
There
Are
No
Mar
Gin
All
Eyes
No
Edges
In
Sky
Or
Water
Just an
Endless
Supply
Of
Colours
