ANGEL
San Francisco Bay
I’m no angel
Hisajiro Inouye and his family moved to America in 1916 and became farmers in San Jose
not by a long shot
was interned on Angel Island on August 14, 1943
I was christened Isla de los Ángeles
Don Juan de Ayala made a survey of the bay of San Francisco, for missions that were soon to be founded
mission accomplished on to the next
federal roundup of Hindus illegally in this country was underway today to be taken to Angel Island for deportation
I confess
beware of so-named angels
fought a duel at Angel Island on Saturday
beware sirens in the waters
they’re often garbed in angel-wear
On Angel Island, the introduction of hypnotism into treatment is due to wide learning of its physician
beware the heavenly
what goes on in the heavens
can be hell
occupied Angel Island to construct bunkers for Nike missiles
be aware.
BEAVER
Lake Michigan
I confess
I am a siren
told of comforts to be found on Beaver Island
alluring
grub was nowhere so good, the liquors so plentiful, and the women so partial to sailors
I am a distant flame upon water
swept clean by a forest fire, all the inhabitants probably burned to
a rumored flame
false report that Beaver Island has been devastated by fire
a flame of lore
who moved to Beaver Island was a Russian nobleman who freed his serfs, which did not meet with the approval of the Czar
here you are free
to be what you want
had a revelation wherein their future prosperity would be planted at Beaver Island
here you are free
to believe what you want
Mormon kingdom ruled by James Strang
legends lived here
seating himself, King James asked where my father was
here there is a hidden treasure of legends
his custom to lie in wait for vessels, plunder them and make their crews remain and convert to their faith or else
if and where I will not confess
of supposed credibility have drawn grotesquely inaccurate pictures
here truth is hidden in rumor and lore
fired a revolver striking Strang in the head, the other a pistol at the small of his back
here your every maybe is free
had been Mormons but
or here it may be
by a force of state officers
it matters not
come see that which you wish
Mormon buildings still standing
you too can inhabit rumor and lore
come
one of the new family plans, Beaver Island now has the King Strang Hotel
islands are sirens of rumor and lore.
NI’IHAU
Hawaii, Privately Owned
I am forbidden
noli me tangere, for the Robinson’s I am
do not think by this I mean
Walt Disney’s Swiss family
owned by the Robinson estate, no outsider may visit without permission
still
disconnection cannot exist
without connection
when Kamehameha V sold Ni’ihau to Mrs. Sinclair for a ridiculously low price
and the continuance of connection
my regard for the Robinson family extends to their grand-mother, Mrs. Sinclair, for her patriotic attentions to my chiefs
our majesties are gone
still I remain
alone
known only as
Mystery Island
so isolated carrier pigeons bear messages to
when you think of me
think of the many meanings
of mystery
only a little cash was stolen, $8,150 being left
because I am forbidden
little is known of me
sad to think how very few can view its beauty
because I am forbidden
little is known of you
didn’t even know that the United States and Japan were at war
because I am forbidden
hidden here is fear
Japanese fighter pilot who crash landed on the island single-handedly captured it with his machine gun
still
when you think of me
think of a majestic age
even the little island of Ni’ihau had her giants
think of majestic lore
hurled his spear so furiously at the Kauai giant that the impact of the spear left a great hole which may still be seen
think of the many meanings
of meaning
uninjured, Limaloa wrenched a rock off the cliff near Polihale and hurled it twenty miles at the Ni’ihau giant
think of the meanings of
the mind’s imaginings
to this day, it is called, Pohaku o Kamaile, Giant’s Rock
look at me and see
the mind’s imagined reality.