Garlanding - Teweiariki Teaero

i woke up and went east

this early dawn

before the eastern sky becomes light

to pick bwabwaku from tabwakea's land

from the top of the uritangaroa tree

flowers that are nice and better than all others

wrapped in the fragrance and

newness of dawn

i weave

flowers that are second to none

using the songs of the itibwerere

i anoint them

with the ngeaiarabo

to be your garland

your garland that is beautiful

your garland your taranga

your garland while you read here

turning the pages of this our book

going over and scrutinizing

the many ideas

in peace

i am putting on you

your garland

the irauea the korotabuki the nimwaereere

your taranga to look after others with

health peace and prosperity

you and i too

here

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Teweiariki Teaero (20th century) Kiribati

Source: Indigenous Literatures from Micronesia, Editors:Craig Santos Perez, Emelihter Kihleng, Evelyn Flores, University of Hawaii Press, 2019