Island Myths
for Jade

We were once two islands,
till our species mixed
and created new species.
Your Polynesians
carved their sleek boats
from your trees
to paddle to me and trade
with my aborigines.
Like fingers they touched my shore.

They told the myth of you,
alive in the mouth of your volcano,
how you and I are lovers
who ran away together
during the battle of our parents—
yours the gods of land
and mine of sea.
Though we have no fathers,
and may not even be gods,
I think you like that story best.

Copyright © 2003 J. P. Dancing Bear All rights reserved
from The National Poetry Review
Reprinted by Verse Daily® with permission