Banidosa

Ai na palao’an diaspora.

Silken hair, untouched by Guam’s humidity.

Hafa na klassen accent enao?

Tucking the gutteral stops of our rough language behind your ear.

Hinasoso’ taotao Mexico hao.

Sounding out the L’s in your “Quintanilla,” erasing the S from your “Perez.”  

Hinasoso’ Españot hao.

Putting yourself away near that picture of your eldest in rank.

Kalan chåchago’ i kurason-mu.

Knew this was your house by the flag at your entrance, the sticker on your car.

Meggai na alåhas CHamoru yan duru na kuentutusi todu tiempo.

This rice ain’t that red.

Lao yangin hu fafaisen hao, “Ngai’an na un mamaila tatte?”

Just for a visit.  Only for vacation; not to live. 

I lek-mu, “NEVER.”  Sa ti ya-mu lina’la giya Guam.

Your boy talks like he's from "the base" and cries too much.  

Ya-mu “Target” yan taya minaolek na tenda giya Guahan.

No, I’ve never seen snow.   

Umapoksai i patgon-mu kalan Gilagu’.

No, my house is not “two stories.”  Too many stories in your house.

Ti un tungo’ i yo-mu lenguahi....

Embarrassed giggles punctuate your half-hearted attempts.

Sesso un falak i gipot CHamoru yan un silebra i “Pacific,”

I don’t wanna cha cha near “those people.”

Yan duru un a’ada’ yu’ sa å’paka’ i lassas-hu ... lao 

Ti un tungo’ i familia-mu.

We don’t look related.  Because you LOOK CHamoru.