AG Satori, the grand old man of PNG poetry, has a favourite secluded place in the mountains where he goes to find inspiration to write (Image by Bing)

AG SATORI
| Noveba 2023

AG Satori’s poem in Goroka Tok Pisin dialect has been kindly translated into English by the great man for the enjoyment of all our readers - KJ

Stephanie Alois, Apoya, naispla meri Koloka ya, AG Satori tok sorre olsem em i no nap rait olsem yu or Maikol long raitim gutpela singsing lo sandin blo leva. Tasol em laik givim tok lukaut long yu long despela taim bihain taim leva bilong yu bai tru tru bruk.

MICHAEL DOM

Son, of all the things you could possibly
Become, do not, I say, do not ever
Become a poet, son. Let me list three
Reasons why, and hopefully when I am
Gone, you’ll understand my views. Here’s number
One. They smell of dog poop steaming in the
Sun. The pong hits your nose, and they call it
Song. Cruel bastards! Number two, they’re filthy
Bums, always begging for coins, licking their
Gums, to sweet-talk or befuddle you for
Fun. And three, they’re crooked as a hook and
Some. They’ll steal all your glory and when they’re
Done, the newspapers won’t know your name from
Tom. Dick, son, become a politician.

STEPHANIE ALOIS

Catch a glimpse of you in the rear view mirror
Your hazel eyes sparkling with happiness
Sets my heart on fire each time
Everything is becoming clearer
My longing for you grows stronger
You are the love that love made for me

STEPHANIE ALOIS

A loud bang shakes the walls around her
A deafening shot from the loudest gun
She hears the sound of her own footsteps
As she struggles crying towards the door
Then a mighty blow across her pretty face
A scream, a trip and her flowing blood

STEPHANIE ALOIS

Father departed when she wasn’t ready
But I’ve seen his soul in the way she carries herself
She does everything to get what she wants
And others call her greedy for that matter
But she is an ambitious one for sure
My sister is stubborn
But that’s because she cares too much