responding to Indentity

Identity

Educate yourself enough so you may understand

the ways of other people

But not too much

that you may lose

your understanding

of your own

Try things palagi

Not so you may become palagi

but so may see the value

of things Sāmoan

Learn to speak Sāmoan

not so you may sound Sāmoan

but so you may

feel the essence

of being Sāmoan

Above all

be aware and proud

of what you are

so you may spare yourself

the agony of those who are asking

“What am I ?”

Lemalu Samau Tate Simi (1995)

How does the title of the poem relate to the poem?who you are.

In poetry, words are powerful. What are some powerful words you have
identified in this poem?Educate,understand,value,

Who are the target audience of this poem?the palagis

Where could you expect to read this poem?
In which settings? School? Home? Where else?in my own time at home