Written piece
An Ode to The Chief
Jeanine Tuguru
Papua New Guinea
About this piece
Papua New Guinea is very diverse - physically, geographically and culturally. This piece tells the story of the period of traditional mourning, called “Hauskrai” following the death of our first Prime Minister, Grand Chief Sir Michael Thomas Somare.
“An Ode to The Chief”
What can we say about this man?
How can we thank him for all that he’s done?
How do we measure the worth of our leader?
Where are the words to describe our Chief?
He gave us this voice, he fought for this land
With amazing foresight, he delivered his plan.
In spite of the doubters, the naysayers and negatives
He stood tall and unwavering like the coconut tree
He was calm and steady like the waves of the sea
For a people so diverse, he alone could unite
In life and in death, he knew we could be one.
Behold the sight of his one thousand tribes
Who mourn for him in a thousand ways
With singing and dancing, shouting and chanting
With the beating of drums and the blowing of conch shells
A thousand tongues cry out for our Chief
Telling his stories, outpouring our grief
See how his people are plastered with mud
Clothed in black, with tears in our eyes
With our shells and spears, our headdresses and bark cloths
With our carvings and paintings, our poems and songs
All woven together like an intricate mat
Telling the world a story of how this great warrior
United a land so diverse, both in life and in death
From the peak of Mt Wilhelm to the Eastern Star
We owe to him a bloodless freedom and more
And each time we don our red, black and gold
From the seas to the hills, in the valleys and the atolls
Let us remember his vision and many sacrifices
And honour his legacy today and forever.
Thank you, Grand Chief.