Sui and Suia (A Poem)

Below is a poem about Sui (Change) and Suia (Changed). 
Note: The root word “sui” also means an official representative, as in a member of Samoa's National Parliament (Fono).
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Sui and Suia

Sui’s life is simple.
He fishes the lagoons
and the open ocean for his family
and others - in his canoe.
He comes home
cooks, cleans and cares
for his family and others.
He hikes to the mountains
to plant and harvest;
and comes home
cooks, cleans, cares
and serves the matai
and waits for his turn to become one.
Sui is bestowed a tulafale chiefly title;
and so he represents and talks on others’ behalf.
He sits and talks in the fono
and is also a speaker at the Fono,
where he becomes a respected leader
and an honorable statesman.
Naturally, he develops love and compassion
for others - his countrymen,
constituents
village
and family.

Suia’s life is much simpler.
Others fish the lagoons
and the open ocean for Suia
- in Suia’s motor boat.
The fishers come home
and sell what they catch
then give Suia the money.
Suia drives to the mountains
to control the planting and the harvests.
Suia sends others to the market
to sell what others planted.
And Suia gets the money
so Suia can buy what Suia wants.
Suia makes good money
and Suia’s money talks ... and talks
even talked him into being made a chief
But Suia never sits in the fono
Yet Suia is a Member of The Fono
where Suia becomes a self-serving politician,
and evolves into a Minotaur (aka “Moneytaur”).
And naturally, Suia gains control and power
over others - his countrymen
constituents
village
and family.

LV Letalu ~ 2014
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fono - village council of chiefs
Fono - Samoa's National Parliament
matai - chief
tulafale - talking chief

RUGBYU ... again and again.

And the new rugby “U” (for "University") is BYU, hence Rugbyu ...LOL!

This past Saturday (5/3) was the championship game for college/university rugby in the US.  Last year BYU played for the national title against Dartmouth and won.  This year the Cougars played against a real tough and formidable opponent - Cal’s Golden Bears (UC Berkeley) - which has more rugby championship titles than any other school.  But BYU has now won the title three consecutive times/seasons.  It’s a three-peat, as former LA Lakers coach, Pat Riley, puts it.  Score was 43-33.

Most credit BYU’s success to its international roster especially form the South Pacific countries like New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, etc. where rugby is a favorite pastime and national sport. Though rugby has not reached the status and popularity of its American football counterpart in the Untied States, it is slowly making headway and recognition which will only get better with rugby as one of the sports now included in the Olympic games.  Incidentally, the state of Utah (home to BYU) is fast becoming the rugby mecca in the US.   Here, the Highland rugby team is the Cal Bears of high school rugby.  The Highland rugby team has won more championships than any other high school and was the inspiration for the movie “Forever Strong”.

Congratulations to the BYU Cougars for a great game on Saturday!

Photos: Deseret News