Written piece
The Drifting Canoes
Christopher Usuka
Papua New Guinea
About this piece
My poem “Drifting Canoes” picturises the Commonwealth community as a canoe in the open sea.
The fishermen as the people of diversity.
The fishing exhibition as the search for understanding and directives, in it with challenges and opportunities.
The catches as finding solution
THE DRIFTING CANOES
Sky as blue as the ocean surface
Sea birds wade below
Foraging in the shallow waters
Canoes drift
Tilt in the horizon
Silhouetted at dawn
Against the southern sky
Fishermen sit idle
Eyes fixed to the fishing lines
Saluting the momentum of the lines
At intervals
One – two catch for the day
Flashing fins parade in the canoes
Tied to the outrigger
Each for a mother’s cooking pot
Makeshift drier
Waiting ashore
On return
In the noon tide waves
Eyes of the sea eagles
Directing the canoes
Loosen hanging nets
Surrounding the school of tuna
Chanting in unison the spells
For good catch
The excitement
Brings mothers
Siblings to the sea shores
The rushing momentum
Evolves into dance
Welcoming the canoes
Celebrating the catch.
By Christopher Usuka
PAPUA NEW GUINEA