THE WEDDING CONCH BLOWER I WAS DIVING IN KANAPALI LOOKING FOR DINNER WHEN SHE APPEARED. SHE LOOKED TAHITIAN, COCOA BUTTER SKIN AND HAIR WITH COCONUT SLATHERED ON IT. I COULD SMELL IT FROM MY ROCK. SHE WAS DEAD STILL WITH A HAND SLING. HER GAZE WAS INTENSE TOWARDS AN EDDY OF WATER. SHE STAYED SO STILL UNTIL A SPLIT SECOND SHE MOVED AND SPEARED AN ONO, PRETTY BIG ONE. I SAY, MAMA, LET'S COOK UM UP. SHE SAY YOU CRAZY, THIS FOR MY KIDS MAN. I TOLD HER I'M HER KID THEN. SHE NOT LAUGHING. SHE STERN FACE. SHE EATING SOUR FRUIT. I SAY MAMA, YOU COOK THE ONO, I COOK THE REST, I PERFUME SOME RICE, SOME POI, A CUP OF RUM OR TWO, WE BE FREINDS. SHE COCKED THE SLING. POINT AT MY PINGA. SO ChICKIE BACK AWAY. NO LIKE WOMEN WITH SPEAR AT MY PINGA. EVERYDAY I COME SEE HER. SHE NO TALK. SHE NO LOOK, SHE CATCH FISH EVERYDAY ONLY ONE. SHE CATCH ONE SHE GO HOME. SHE MOVE SO FAST, I NO FIND HER. BUT I KNOW WHERE SHE FISH. ONE DAY I BRING MY CONCH SHELL AND PLAY AND PLAY, I PRACTICE FOR WEDDING. SHE ACT LIKE SHE NO LIKE, BUT I SEE HER EYES GET LITTLE SHINY. SOMETHING GOING ON IN HER HEART. SHE NO TALK, CAUSE SHE THINK I CRAZY AND LAZY TAHITI BOY. I WORK HARD, I TAKE CARE OF MAMA, SISTER, SISTER KIDS, WHEN SHE LEAVE I FISH ALL DAY, I CUT THE COCO, I CUT THE LEAVES TO PATCH THE HOUSE GOOD, NO WATER IN BAD STORM. I BRING THE HERBS HOME AND COOK THE FOOD FOR THE FAMILY AND I RUB THE MAMAS FEET, THEy SWOLE UP. SHE BIG KAHUNA IN MY VILLAGE. EVERYONE GIVE HER SWEET TO EAT, MAYBE SHE HAVE TOO MUCH SUGAR IN THE BLOOD, THE SILLY PREACHER MAN TOLD ME. WE GOT DOCTOR, PLENTY GOOD, I WORRY THOUGH AND SHE WORRY, CHICKEE SHE SAY, YOU NO GOT A WOMAN, MAYBE YOU LIKE THE MAN. NO MAMA, I'M LOOKING, BUT NO ONE LOOK BACK. ONE DAY SHE SAY CHICKEE, THE GIRL WHO FISH SHE NO LIKE YOU? NO MAMA, SHE MAD AT SOMETHING. MAYBE SHE HAD BAD MAN. YEAH CHICKEE ONE BAD MAN MAKE YOU SCARED. YOUR DADDY GOOD TO ME. MAKE PLENTY PINEAPPLE. HE WORKED TO DEATH TO FEED US. I KNOW MAMA, MY EYES RAINING. SHE SAY COME TO ME CHICKEE, I FIX YOU, YOU TOO DUMB ABOUT WOMEN, I TELL YOU NOW AND SHE TOLD ME, THEN SHE RUB PLUMERIA OIL IN MY HAIR AND SHE TOLD ME TAKE THE CONCH SHELL TO THE FISHING LADY AND PLAY FOR HER. YOU TAKE MY SPECIAL LEI OF ORCHIDS TOO. SHE COME WITH YOU THEN. I SAY MAMA, SHE VERY MAD. SOMETHING MAKE HER MAD. NOT ME. CHICKEE, YOU NO CHASE HER, YOU RUB THE OIL IN YOUR HAIR AND CLEAN UP IN THE FRESH WATER AND OIL YOUR TATTOOS. AND BRING THE LEI, JUST LEAVE IT BY HER, DON'T TALK DON'T BE SMART AND SLY. YOU DO WHAT I SAY. I DO WHAT BIG MAMA SAY AND YOU MUST GUESS THE REST. THE LEI WAS GONE BY THE SUNSET. THAT'S ALL I TELL. I AM HONORABLE, I TELL NOTHING. WRITTEN BY CHICKEE, PAINTED BY MIGUEL COPYRIGHT BY MICHAEL FORBUS SHE MOVE SO FAST, I NO SEE WHERE SHE LIVE. SO CHICKEE
22 Comments
Amy Jordan 01 Feb 2007
A beautiful painting to go along with a beautiful story. You are a poet in your heart.bianca 31 Oct 2006
fabulous work....awsome art...INCREDIBLEJacqueline Bishop 11 Sep 2006
beautiful!! ZAZRashi Chaturvedi 25 Jul 2006
hey wow...this one is awesome... reallly cooool... with an amazing story.Emily Reed 21 Jul 2006
Just really gorgeous!!!Femi Johnson 07 Jul 2006
illuminating story & picture MichaelTerry Harris 04 Jun 2006
Outstanding story and art! WOW!!!Elton Houck 02 Jun 2006
intense...love this story and image..Nelly van Nieuwenhuijzen 31 May 2006
marvellous work, Michael! great text and superb computerART!Tabitha Borges 25 May 2006
this so moving and the details wonderful...Sara Deutsch 25 May 2006
Quite a story! Dramatic, shamanic image...love the frame..like a window in time....Anonymous Guest 25 May 2006
Translation for the Hawaiian phrase below: Here is the good thing. She always knew the Tahitian man was for her. His proud manhood and broad shoulders were always on her mind..but most of all his proud and sincere heart! She took the lei and then left behind the petals of the plumeria as a trail to her hut. Come! Come! I am here.Anonymous Guest 24 May 2006
Ela kamea maikae. Ola nei pau ole ike pono Polopaia kane ua nana. Kana ha'aheo la'au a me laula kipo'ae'ae ua pau ole ma kona man'o...a hapanui ka a pau kona 'oia'i'o pu'uwai. Kona laue ka lei a koe hope ka lihilhi oka melia me a hela i kona hale. Mai..! mai...! eia' no au nei. From Hawaii with Love.Analua 24 May 2006
OHHH AMAZING!!!!!! How I love this!!!!Lara Falcone 24 May 2006
Awesome work! This is a beautiful painting, and a fun story.Nira Dabush 24 May 2006
Wonderful story to go with this AWESOME work of yours ,dear Michael.Beautiful body painting,,excellent pose captured here...and the sound of your text..is sounded even here :-)...FANTASTIC ART!Chas Sinklier 24 May 2006
I gotta CONCH, You gotta CONCH - all God's Children gotta CONCH - Hey Michael FANBLINKINGTASTIC!!! Truly awe-inspiring pic my bud :0)Lauren Munger 24 May 2006
Miguel, this is my very favorite piece of yours that I have seen! It is strong and powerful as are the colors. The story written in broken English makes me feel like I was there. So magical, so mystical, so beautiful!!!maggie Barra 24 May 2006
Excellent Michael...maggiethea walstra 24 May 2006
A gorgeous story and marvellous work Miguel. This is gret my frien!Loredana 24 May 2006
WoW !!!!!!!!! My all time Favorite this is outstanding Michael i love this very much its awesome work :) And the story is just as awesome :Angelina 24 May 2006
Michael this is so touching and memorable loving the new style too TATOO GOOD