At the plummer’s office,
my house plans rolled out,
an elder, a Kupuna, tapping
an o’o stick, waiting for her daughter,
a yellow flowered lei hanging
to her waist, tiny fern tucked in hair,

She says, ground breaking was fast, 
from planning to breaking, you know,
sometimes takes forever. So,
you building your own house?

Yes, I say, sons say they’re going to help,
We’ll see.

Yes, she says, her fern bobbing, her stick
tapping, her flowing dress, her leg,
thrown over her armrest,
We’ll see.

We both laugh, her daughter’s clacking
computer keys, she says my paperwork
is taken care of, and I tell her,
thanks for her patience, I feel relieved,

her mama says, from the chair,
she’s used to taking care of me,
that’s why.

We all laugh, and I think
I must be getting old er.