Wine, Women and Tonga

A Tongan Student’S Ruminations in Diaspora

English This is a raw and pragmatic story book of poems in English and Tongan. It is not a critique of where I have been or of those I have been lucky to meet. It is not a literary work demonstrating poetic acumen. It is merely a chronicle of the thought flashes in response to life situations. These are just snippets of the demons and angels that keep this overseas student learning from day to day without being absorbed into host norms while in diaspora. Its the fluctuations to stay afloat and faithful to ones birth and heritage. They have been recorded between books, laughter, and tears. Some of the experiences were frustrating and some choices tormenting. But in the end, there were always challenges, learning and good times. The poems were conceived out of life that now seems too foreign to be me. It is now delivered to all those who made that portion of my life, and to the students who will continue to leave home to seek education in a foreign environment. Tongan Ko e kii tohi maau eni ko e taanga mooni mo aiai mata eni. Oku ikai ko ha fakaanga pe manukia ki ha feituu pe ko ha niihi neu monuia o mau felongoaki. Oku ikai foki ko ha taanga fakapoto eni a ha punake ke fakaali ai e loloto mo e maukupu hono huelo. Ko e kii kalonikali pe eni ia o e ngaahi mautalanoa lolotonga e feangai mo e tuha e moui. Oku masiva eni he laulau kakala holo, mita, olopoto, mo fakanonga kae umaa e vanaiki ha lopapa a tuluta oha kii vai tafe to ki ha taputa a e ngaahi taanga fakahikuongo, huni mo masi ko e oku ne amo, ene, mo lau e ngaahi filo e mafu. Ko e kii kosinga pe eni o e fanga temenio mo e kau angelo ne nau tokangaekina ke ako mau pe e motua taka muli ni, ka oua naa heheia o mole he nanunga fakatuapuleanga lolotonga e taka he vahanoa. Ko e ngaahi fetoloaki ke kei maanu o mateekina e tupuanga mo e tukufakaholo. Ne huvahaa e tohi ni he ako, pokakata, mo e loimataia. Ko e niihi e ngaahi mea ne hokosia ne fakatupu moutafuua pea niihi ne fakamamahi. Ka, i he afangatuku ne iai e fakamoulaloa, pole mai, hinoii he ako mo e taimi fiefia.