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Aloha Weeps

Aloha Weeps Aloha weeps In waves of grief Pounding on a windswept beach To grieve the loss of gracious footsteps That gently walked upon its sand Where the waves that tickled her heart Now carry a plumeria lei Beyond the horizon. Pele mourns Her adopted child Whose fiery imagination Flowed like lava in poetry To build new lands of inspiration Child, laughing in pikaki’s fragrant garden, Slips quietly from breath’s bonds Past the islands’ shores. Trade winds grieve Murmuring her name Steadfast In gossamer hues Of orchids and hibiscus, Hawaii’s pua aloalo, So they remember to give Breath to her words Gliding over rolling surf And rustling palms. Rainbows cry Reach out to touch Her giving servant heart, To touch her beauty, To find her na'u garden empty With only her Aloha scent Lingering Among the ilima of Oahu As she soars on rainbow wings Into friendly skies again. The tropic sun laments In a ring Of fiery tears In secret waterfalls Among the blue awapuhi – trails of naupaka And coral reefs That guard tropical beauty When tides recede To hear the conch shell call her home. Aloha Hawaiian Rose. Mahalo nui loa, ka’u hoaaloha! Thank you so much my friend. God be with you! ke Akua pu. On the passing of Connie Marcum Wong! Poet extraordinaire! Servant Heart! Faithful friend! Beautiful flower in Hawaii’s garden. Constance means steadfast. 9-16-22 Thank you William, Hilo Poet, for teaching me the beauty of the Hawaiian language. I truly hope I have written it correctly to honor this beautiful language. Awapuhi is a beautiful blue flower native to Hawaii. Ilima is the flower of the island of Oahu Naupaka is a small white, fragrant flower of Hawaiian legend Na’u is the Hawaiian, fragrant gardenia Pua aloalo is the Hibiscus – state flower of Hawaii

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Deb M

Date: 9/17/2022 4:05:00 AM

What a magical Hawaiian farewell to an obviously much adored Hawaiian lady Connie ….Aloha Hawaiian Rose…….just lovely Sam. Debx

Sam Kauffman
Date: 9/19/2022 10:43:00 AM

Greetings Deb! Thank you! Connie was more than a special lady. She was the epitome of grace with a servant's heart that encouraged and inspired. How blessed we were that she graced so many lives with her words and her love. Truly she was a rose in Hawaii's garden and she is missed and mourned even by the sea, the trade winds, and Hawaiian legend. Sending you blessings and a hug.

Valsa George

Date: 9/16/2022 9:16:00 PM

Wow..... this is poetry of the highest kind. I feel Connie is so lucky to have generated so much of love and deep sentiments from her poet friends. Many have come up with moving tributes and all those I have read are outstanding in one way or other. Yours is just wonderful Sam. Trade winds grieve, rainbows cry, sun laments and the conch shell call her name. What more does Connie need! She must surely be smiling in Heaven! Excellent tribute, dear Sam

Sam Kauffman
Date: 9/19/2022 10:52:00 AM

Dearest Valsa, your lovely message honors me - puts a broad smile into my heart and on my face. Thank you! Connie was one of the first poets to welcome me to PS. I treasured her notes and was so honored to be called friend. I could not separate her from the Hawaii she loved. It seemed to me that even the winds, the seas, the flowers and the rainbow grieved her passing along with all of us. We were truly blessed by her presence, her love, her friendship and her xxoo's that she sent in every message. Sending you blessings and hugs dear friend.

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 9/16/2022 7:45:00 PM

Oh my goodness. One of the most beautiful tributes I have ever seen for ANYbody. Another Fave for me. I've already faved at least two other Connie tribute poems. I wish I could even think of something this wonderful.

Sam Kauffman
Date: 9/17/2022 8:26:00 PM

Andrea, your beautiful message is humbling! Thank you many times over not only for your words but for your fav. We were so blessed to have known Connie as a friend and as a poet. This poem refused to be ignored. I believe it came from a deep well of love and friendship. I feel so blessed to been able to articulate those feelings. Knowing you, and your poetic heart, I know you will write something very special for Connie. Will be looking for it! Blessings my friend!

Suzanne Delaney

Date: 9/16/2022 4:53:00 PM

This is so beautiful, Sam: It brought tears. to my eyes. You really filled the air with all the magical fragrances of Hawaii. The heavenly scents of pikake and the elusive scented perfume of ilima. That is the thing that lingers in my memories of living there…frangipangi, tuberrose and ginger. Connie would have delighted in this poem in her honour. Hugs, SuZ

Sam Kauffman
Date: 9/17/2022 8:19:00 PM

SuZ, I am deeply honored. Thank you! One of my strongest memories of Hawaii is the scent of the flowers on the night air - nothing like it. Funny that you should mention tuberose and ginger. I almost put them into the poem. Maybe I'll find a place to add them in the poem! How wonderful to have lived in Hawaii. I am so happy that his tribute to Connie brought back those wonderful memories. They bring back memories of Connie. Take care. Blessings! Hugs! Sam