Through The Field Of Wheat

Tapuele’ele arrayed like the Garden of Eden
The rooster cries the end of wet season
I watch the sunrise kissing mount Vaiola
Touching my face with her warm talofa

Running home I smell the smoke of the umu
My small feet running, today is lotu
My brothers playing with his red balloon
His laughter melodies his own cheerful tune

Tinā says he’s a gift from God
Others tease that he might be odd.
So throwing rocks at them with my might
And seeing them run, gives me delight

Skipping down the tropical road to Lotu
The humidity warming my little ofu
I turn and smile and my brother giggles
His red balloon he plays with and fiddles

We worship and sing songs of praise to Him
And learn how Iesu Atoned for all our sins
Tinā is fanning herself with an ili
While my brother is making noises and being silly

Feeling the grumblings as I return home .
The umu is ready and we take off the stones
The foods smell infiltrates the neighbourhood
The taro, luau, prawns and breadfruit smell good

“Lou matou Tamā oi Le Lagi,” I say
And ask God to bless the food displayed
“Amene” they say and we begin to feast
Filled my tummy and the grumblings finally ceased

I’m older now and have become the Tinā
“Oh Samoa my home” so close yet so far
I know we share the warmth of the same sun
And where my mustard seed of faith begun

The memories of my Sabbaths as a child
The wilderness and me running through the wild
My Tinā and brother playing a foundational part
And God who has them and my tender heart