Prologue

By Seri

Doom’d, garlanded to fast in lovo flames.

I Harrowing the sun-begotten hibiscus unweeded I that labours to seed.

Poisoning deeper fibres within this Melanesian Submerged.

In the lust for the Papalagis’ corals like honeycombed wormwoods dead and dry Speak shark-teeth to my cenotaph.

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O, whose nativity? O, whose delight?

I Island of evil doers rotten to the core innocence and beauty never born in you Antiquity forgot, customs not known Hangover from Ant hills yonder , land of cake dungs and birddrops baked in cruel sun that I turneth cypress wood into stone.

Jaded forest paths slip I Sharp pebbles under bare feet thieves lark.

DAKUWAQA with your club rub \your blood-dust Tickle and oven-stones within Bones of your Afro-fathers Iquana delights Maggots toiled within coral’s web A vulture’s fisty fights I see in mud pools the mirage of a lost race purchased Coughing bamboo crackers — Papalagis' pearl Trinkets, trappings, trash, ash-tray glass With your land No room to spread your blankets A missing link of morality and race.

Stupidity?

Myopic blockheads.

Rat us lecherous fools You commit the blunder You sanctuarize the 'Cancerous beach-combers Lured to miraculous barking bamboos —respeaking the SKY-GOD’S anger running heart-beats aimed at Copra Mill Fall Wonders and desires knotted and Combined —like fretful eels pregnant with lust bathed the shallow waters.

Gone. [No lullabies to soothe, No herb to heal the Leprous wounds the taints of chiefly liberty.

Coconut drops and Sorceress magic brew on clammy reef-shells and sleeky melon seeds Salty balolo juice to reptiles cocktail mix oozing lavender harbours the scent A woman’s spread Legs a straddle to semi-recumbent posture.

Wriggling thick-lipped monster 4 lb tar-baby proper.

Angry laughter—the winnowing Wind Whets papa’s tool Tar-baby’s silhouette fancy rock lobsters and dilberry ducks Souped for wild dogs sup Tapa dinner suits and crocodiles’ boots Whales’ fangs hanging like tadpoles on sinnet the deep fibre of our very nature O, thick powdered faces and lipsticked noses Miniskirted bums—grass skirts discarded Limbs of your blood brothers baked in sulphureous flames greying to canonized bones. See! The leeches sucking the artery dry Stewed eye-balls and elbow chops tummy’s navel pointing Scavenges life’s brew Skinny twister lips starved in prophetic warnings.

Protoplasm massy and watery Pollute the estuary of Blood lagoons O, where will the bones be Thrown?