When the Full Moon Rises

The night falls, a darkened sky, Stars glitter at me… every second, every time. From the eastern side of my island, we see an eye— A bright, round, dark-yellow eye, Peeking from beneath the calm, dark ocean blue, Yawning, as we wait for the game to start. When the full moon rises, awakened by a cold breeze, It glows above with a heavenly breath. White clouds take shape in different forms, Moving like actors in a silent film— Dancing, battling, making funny faces. Soon, our backyard is bathed in ghostly white, The niu, ulu, tamaligi, and talie trees Stretch their black shadows across the garden, Twisting, creeping—scary, eerie, thrilling. Bushes wave at us, adding to the excitement, And one of us calls out, "Fai kakou igave’a!" This is better than any sport, Playing under moonlight— Not too hot, not too cold, No sunburn, no boredom, no chores. An owl hoots in the distance, Cicadas whisper secrets we can hear but never see. Bats swoop above, hunting on the fruit trees, Turning the night into an adventure. Each player takes position, Finding the perfect hiding spot, Disappearing into the shadows. "Make sure to survive a forbidden fall!" Hide and Seek, the palagi name it, But in Samoa, this is the game of the night. We play until the seeker finds us all, Laughter echoing through the garden, Until exhaustion pulls us to the soft grass, Breathing in the scent of pure earth, Singing lullabies to the moon’s endurance. "Omai i le fale, ua leva le po!" Mum calls from the front of the house. We groan—too soon to end the night! "Darn it!" I whisper to my brother. "It’s alright, there are plenty of nights ahead!" "But not every night is a full moon!" I grumble. We race home, wash up, and rest. Lying in bed, minds still full of wonder, Dreaming of the moon, our white planet. What would the world be without you? Dark, dull, silent, lifeless. Ha! Ha! Can’t wait for your next return. Tonight? Maybe next time. I’m off to sleep now— Or else I’ll be late for school tomorrow! G’night, moon babe, and sweet dreams.