WEBVTT

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Hafa adai, everybody.

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It's going to take me
one second to get set up

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and get adjusted to this very
bright, sunlike light coming

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at me.

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So I would like for you,
while I get prepared,

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to turn to a person
that you did not

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arrive here with, if
possible, and tell them

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the best part of your day.

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Talk-- talk amongst yourself.

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[SIDE CONVERSATION]

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It sounds like you've been
having some pretty good days,

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so I'm into that.

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And then, just thank the person
for sharing some of their day

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with you.

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So to get started, I would like
very much to thank the Poetry

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Center and Vickie Vértiz,
who was this year's judge

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for the summer residency and
chose my manuscript for being

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here.

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So thank you.

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The gift of unfettered
time and solitude to create

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is one that I have
not received before.

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And honestly, I don't know what
to do with myself just yet.

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But I just got here, so I feel
like it's-- it's going to come

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to me.

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I believe that I'm the first
CHamoru poet in residence here.

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Y'all can clap.

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You can clap.

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[CHEERING]

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I hope that I am the
beginning of a long list

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of future CHamoru
poets in residence.

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I also have a special guest
in the audience tonight

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that I would like to thank,
my friend and fellow queer

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Indigenous bicycle
mechanic Asha Greyeyes.

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[CHEERING]

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Asha and I met at bike mechanic
school, and we love each other.

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[LAUGHTER]

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So for tonight's
reading I'd like

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to make a dedication to all
First Nations and Indigenous

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people who are fighting colonial
and imperial forces to protect

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sacred land, air, and water.

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In particular, my
fellow CHamorus

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who are fighting to protect our
island from the US military's

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plan to install a
live fire training

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complex on sacred land, often
referred to as Ritidian,

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which we call Litekyan.

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I'd also like to extend my
support to Kanaka Maoli, chosen

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family who are protecting Mauna
Kea from further desecration,

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and know that my
heart is with you.

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