Poetry for me has always been a healing process. When you write and you put that memory down, it lifts the burden a little bit.
Kathy Jetñil-Kijiner
Kathy Jetñil-Kijiner led a series of poetry workshops in Ejit and Majuro, where children were invited to select their own topics to write about, after listening to Kathy read her own work.
Kathy used a version of the ‘Acceptance Workshop’, developed by the organisation Pacific Tongues. It is suited to all grade levels between middle school and high school. The workshop begins with a broad discussion about what it feels like to be accepted, and to be rejected. Students are then asked to write about moments in their lives when they felt accepted, and moments when they felt rejected.
In Majuro and Ejit, Kathy asked students to write about three specific memories that are important to them, that shaped who they are.
What comes out of it is whatever they put it into it. Some kids they’ll just scratch the surface, and they’ll talk about going to an aquarium, or a birthday party. Some kids will dive in deep, and they’ll talk about the time they were bullied, or the time that their grandfather died, or going back home to the Marshalls.
Kathy then asked the students to consider whether the three memories are linked together — and if they are, to write a poem connecting them. If the memories are not connected, the student can choose the direction he or she wants to go in.
Key themes emerged in the poetry:
- the nuclear legacy
- the displacement of Bikini Islanders, many of whom are the elder relatives of students at Ejit Elementary School
- family and community relationships
- memorable personal experiences
- important cultural practices, such as fishing and food preparation
- church
Students at Ejit Elementary School write spoken word poetry, guided by Kathy Jetñil-Kijiner. Photos © Christine Germano.
As for me,
I grew up in the island of Ailinglaplap
And I moved to Majuro to go to school on Ejit.
And one day our canoe sunk at a passage,
That was very rough.
And now I always remember that time…
Baby Boas, ‘Our Canoe’
The poetry of the Marshallese children in Honolulu had its own distinctive topics:
- the challenge of being separated from family back in the RMI and other parts of the US
- racial prejudice and social marginalisation as one of America’s ‘newest’ immigrant communities
The poetry written by the Ejit and Majuro students has been published as a book. Due to the sensitivity of the material, and the fact that participant consent has yet to be obtained, poetry written by the Honolulu students is not included in this first edition.
Read the book, Poetry and Art by Children from Ejit and Majuro
Doing research, discussing Pacific Island health, and writing poetry at Honolulu Central Middle School. Photos © Christine Germano.
When I went with my grandfather to Rita
I was so happy
Because this was my first time on Majuro
When we went to look for food
Jerlianna Lolin, ‘First Time on Majuro’