‘o ‘opu swimming upstream
Nihi pali rain sneaks along the cliff
Carving grooves into He‘eia*
*mele pule kau by Hi’iaka, transcribed and translated by Colette Leimomi Akana in Hānau Ka Ua Hawaiian Rain Names, 233.
Pooling along the way in lo’i kalo
into the stony arms of the loko i‘a.
ʻamaʻama, awa, pualu
someday ‘o‘opu
Shy fish scattered by footsteps on the ground and moving shadows
retreat back to the loko i‘a
Building muscles to swim up the au wai
to prune leaves and eat insects
spawn upstream
eggs wash downstream
Water’s refrain is a daily practice of wet weaves.
measure the height of a mamaki plant with a niu leaf
measure the moisture in the air by listening to the rain forming on the ko‘oloaus
refrains not plans
follow the path of ‘alae ‘ula through the sedges <|
follow the path of folding sweet potato leaves <|
follow the path of a body clearing California grasses <|
follow the path of fish swimming up the au wai x