A Thousand Cranes

so many have loved us
rocked us
given us the names of their dead grandfathers
pledged themselves to us

we are the survivors
skin on skeleton
blameless, incorrupt
but
something in them hated
something in us
Wai Momi
Water of Pearl
the shark gods were long gone from the harbor

damaged
we are so damaged
blasted
stunted
shell shocked
yet
we are here to say
that in this twisted wreckage
like honey in a cup
lies sweetness so intense
like the moth fluttering at the lantern
memory returns
like the crane flying over silver over black water
we are alive