Quantum Blood 2 – Creative Response to Naomi Losch Blood Quantum 2

Quantum Blood 2 – Creative Response to Naomi Losch Blood Quantum 2

I wrote this with the idea of Identity in mind. In the original poem the character is talking to some unknown speaker. I decided to add in this unknown speaker to complete the conversation as a story.


Why hello it’s nice to meet you. Your Hawaiian? What a coincidence I am Hawaiian as well.

Wat? You Hawaiian, you no look like! How much Hawaiian you?

Im one sixteenth Hawaiian on my mother’s side. I’ve been told I don’t look very Hawaiin but I am proud of my heritage.

One sixteet’?! Ho bra, so little bit, whea stay? In yaw small toe?

I suppose it’s not that much. I don’t think that should matter though should it?. How about you, how much Hawaiian are you?

I tree quata, yeah, and we live homestead, too.

Oh how lucky you are. I would have loved to stay in a homestead but unfortunately I can’t.

You no can, heh? You no mo’nuff blood.

Yes even though my mo`oku`auhau is of the Ayua family I am unable to do so. It is however humbling to be part of such a long proud line of Hawaiians.

Wat? Mo’oku...wat? What is dat? Genealogy?

Yes mo`oku`auhau, you know your family’s heritage? Your bloodline? You don’t know of such things?

Oh, I dunno dat kine stuff, my mudda she know.

Oh that’s very unfortunate. Im sorry.

How you know dat kine stuff? Yaw mudda teach you?

Yes my mother taught me all about my mo`oku`auhau when teaching me the Hawaiian language.

You can talk Hawaiian? Wow, I no can, but I get the blood

Yes you do. Im surprised didn’t your mother teach you these things?.

My mudda no can talk Hawaiian. I tink her grandmudda could.

That’s a shame. It’s a very beautiful language.

Dey wen use Hawaiian when dey like talk stink about my mudda dem.

Im very sorry that must have been difficult for you both

Wow, you can talk stink about us too now.

I assure you I have no intention of doing such a thing.

Ho, even if you get little but Hawaiian blood, jes’ like you mo’ Hawaiian.

I have done no such thing. Its you who have acted like your more Hawaiian. Why would you think I have done so?

Cause you know Hawaiian kine stuff and can talk Hawaiian.

That doesn’t mean I think I know more Hawaiian does it?

You sound jes’ like my gradfadda but you no look like.

Does appearance matter that much when deciding who is Hawaiian and who isn’t?

No can tell who is Hawaiian now days, yeah?

Yeah, I think your right no one can tell anymore. If only people would accept that…