BUS TRANSFER IN MAUI ON THE WAY
TO HAIKU, NEAR THE MERWIN CONSERVANCY
"When you are alone you will be all right."
W. S. Merwin
We encounter Juan Jusko's acrylics
in the hallway of the bathroom mall.
Here they are: Pu'unene Mill, Kaupa Store,
Holy Ghost Church. Kaupa Store draws
me in. Missing boards under front porch,
Cement steps with philodendrons growing
by corner of house. Drain pipe detached
from guttered metal roof, and here,
in the doorway, the girl,
just shy of school age in a blue blouse,
white lace at the neck, jean shorts,
looking out. Beside her, family dog,
mirroring her, as relaxed and at home
as is the girl. Kaupa, ancient district,
Moku in the old language, Gift of God,
remote, sparsely populated,
a sustainable ranching community.
Juan Rusko has been painting from his van
on Maui for three decades. Most of the time,
he says, the steering wheel is my easel.
Layover time for a bus transfer
at the Mall, traveling towards
Merwin's Conservancy in Haiku,
we drink mango pineapple smoothies
with tapioca, our senses cold-frozen,
unable to leave the dog and girl
in the doorway. The sign above them,
Beer, Wine, Sake.
Beyond
the Red and White Coca Cola
beside the Kaupa Store sign
on the roof, the arching rainbow.
Jim Bodeen
16 August 2019
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