Naupaka

A flower in Hawaii
blooms in halves -
half on the mounts
half on the shores.

Naupaka is its celebrated name -
we hear there was a princess of the same name
long, long ago 
and she fell head over heels
in love with a commoner -
a prohibited misdeed for royal ones.

The lovers went from pillar to post
to find a way out
from the quandary they were in.
They yearned to win
the heart of everyone
and live in peace as one
together for several eons.

Alas! That was not to be!
Although a priest asked them to pray
at a mountain temple
to find if the Divine cared,
which with all their heart they did
without any visible aid.

Bereft of hope they embraced in tears,
the princess tore the flower on her hair
into two halves and gave
one piece to her love;
she said in tears:
“Take it to the mounts, my dear
and I shall return to those who least care
at the shaky shores
far down there
with the other half on my hair”. 

A heart-broken naupaka plant
witnessed the event;
bleeding inside she decided
to always blossom in halves thence.

This may be a legend made up
to explain a natural wonder
of a flower blossoming in halves
but the world goes lachrymose;
humanity then sings in tears
for lovers torn asunder
on the globe everywhere.

And the winds of Hawaii
breathe this love story
day in and day out
in unceasing strains
and the stars sure do listen
as do the swaying palms.
Oh, visitor to the island, cry!

And say a prayer,
oponopono* for sure,
the Lord will listen
and lessen the pain.

* "Forgive me please, I am sorry, I love you, Thank you” – that is the oponopono prayer of Hawaii to the Lord.  It takes care wherever you are.