Aotearoa Runaway
they searched for my body
in local parks and schools
they cut away
the long grass
daring to hope
for a sign
an angelic proclamation
or at least a shoe or a sock
while on the other side of town
I was high in the sky
hanging out with some random guy
and my mate Johnny
in the backseat
last name: Walker
he was one real treat
then they found me
messed up and bruised
their sweet island girl
gone bush feral
forget sympathy (they said)
screw pity yes to sheer relief
f___ yes to bloody angry
over and over they asked
and asked: what do we do
with this harlot, this slut?
what happened to our baby?
yesterday she was thirteen
years innocent
now she’s literally f____d
so they hacked off my hair
hoping cultural violence: shame
might stop me from running again
but once more I jumped
out that window I hurtled
Nāfanua hussy hair flying free
far far away from Sāmoa
Aotearoa runaway
a foolish kid
searching
for true love
and freedom
from fear