GU:  Mary Cresswell

                M a r y  C r e s s w e l l 

GUAM

was never my name.

I was Mariana when

galleons rode me—

Sachiko when

the next guys ripped me up

like cherry blossoms—

Camarin when

the hairy ones moved back,

lock, stock and barrel.

I’m part of the coral:

when the sun blares, there I am—

Starfish, blue as sky and sea,

edges crisp as horizons.

Earthquake won’t break me.

Typhoon won’t shake me.

Call me what you like.

I am here. Here I stay.

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