'Identity' Written by Lemalu Samau Tate Simi

'Identity' Written by Lemalu Samau Tate Simi

A poetry so interesting written by Lemalu Samau Tate Simi shown to us by our teacher Mrs Tofa in our reading and poetry research. This poem is called 'Identity,' This poem 'Identity' is related to those who don't exactly know how to be a Samoan or maybe to those who were born in the palagi world but is part Samoan. I hope you enjoy this poem because I did. 

Educate yourself enough

So you may understand

The ways of other people

But not too much

That you may lose

Your understanding

Of your own

Try things palagi

Not so you may become palagi

But so you may see the value

Of things Samoan

Learn to speak Samoan

Not so you may sound Samoan

But so you may

Feel the essence

Of being Samoan

Above all

Be aware and proud

Of what you are

So you may spare yourself

The agony of those who are asking

“What am I”

Written by - Lemalu Samau Tate Simi (1995)