Pau Ka Hana

Not long after
the ruinous bombs
had been, 
for the most part,
located, disarmed, 
if necessary, dug up
and removed,
we went with Paul
to pull weeds
and burn invasive seeds
by the thousands
in fifty-five gallon drums
become temporary incinerators,
in the shallow salt marsh,
now newly restored,
at Luakealialalo, 
after which
we would float
among the dolphins
in the quiet bay
at Hanakanaia
and watch in awe
the silent clouds
massing late
in the afternoon,
overflowing the gap
between Luamakika
and  ‘Ulupalakua,
coming to carry us
away with the light,
leaving the enveloping fog
and the deepening night
to their own
restoration work,
while we dreamed
of great koa forests
rising from parched soil
the color of blood,
the color of rust,
the color of flames.