Spirit Song

Mama told me
That songs could call on spirits.
I admired the beat of the drums
Because it aroused a different person inside me
And every time the drums played,
That person would come out and take over me.
It could be days before I came back to myself
Once again hiding the secret twin that lay within.

Mama said
That when the drums played,
Your ancestors would dance inside of you
It was something only you could know
Deep in the heart they whisper
Knowledge  Hope  Fear  Sadness
Life and Death

Mama told me
That songs could call on spirits
And every time the drums play
I know that mama is right
Because she lives inside of me too.

by Kelsey Kato
8th grade, ‘Iolani School