Ancestral Poem Framework - Tim

Identify who you are: Your culture/gender The eyes of yesterday is behind me, the eyes of today are guiding me and the eyes of tomorrow are leading me. Before history came to my family, my ancestors were born.

Share two meaningful things about your culture that you are proud of. My ancestors have conquered on anyone that gets in their way. They were the leaders of my family, our soldiers, our protector. They were fearless, they were born to fight, they were born to keep my family safe.

Mention how the decisions of your ancestors help shape who you are today. Use poetic language to describe this - remember to express your critical thinking! The blood of my ancestors flow within me, as a strive to be powerful like them. I am leading through my ancestors footprints. They will catch every drop as I cry, they will help me in any situation, but most of all they will find the pleasure that’s been hidden.

Paint a picture of the past using your five senses:  e.g. hearing the beat of drums or the scraping the coconut with the hakalo (Tongan tool for coconut scraping).  Feeling the weight of the water as the paddle moves through it - as your ancestors make their way to a new land... I hear my heart pounding, passed down from generations, I can feel my ancestors blood circling my lungs, I can taste the rice between my teeth. I can also hear the presence of my ancestor from above giving me signals of what to do and leading me to success.

Look into your future - where will you be, and will your ancestors be happy you are there? What do your ancestors mean to you as you move into your own pathway? I look into the future, seeing what is ahead of me. My ancestors will push me and help make sure that I am never giving up on my dreams. As generations pass down, I will become one of my ancestors, fearless, brave. I will also be a protector, to whom of a youngster. I have lead through tomorrow, I have been guided from today, but I also have not forgotten about yesterday.

Sentence starters:

• I am... (Only allowed to use this twice in poem).
• We are the future...
• My ancestors…
• I have the…
• They taught me to… and now I...
• I am proud of…
• I cherish the ...
• My ancestors live in me…
• They give me the strength to...
• I can hear/smell/feel/see...
• They guide my future as a...
• The future...
• I take my ancestors with me…
• I carry the belief…
• I walk with pride in the shadow of my ancestors as I…
• I feel their love as I…
• They watch over me with…
• I….. so when we meet they will welcome me with pride and…
• I follow the legacy of...

drumbeats in the distance

tears are the stars that shine…

guided by the hands of yesterday, today and tomorrow

wind whispers historical words of wisdom

the eyes of yesterday watch over me  

Put your poem together!

The eyes of yesterday is behind me, the eyes of today are guiding me and the eyes of tomorrow are leading me. Before history came to my family, my ancestors were born.

My ancestors have conquered on anyone that gets in their way. They were the leaders of my family, our soldiers, our protector. They were fearless, they were born to fight, they were born to keep my family safe.  

The blood of my ancestors flow within me, as a strive to be powerful like them. I am leading through my ancestors footprints. They will catch every drop as I cry, they will help me in any situation, but most of all they will find the pleasure that’s been hidden.

I hear my heart pounding, passed down from generations, I can feel my ancestors blood circling my lungs, I can taste the rice between my teeth. I can also hear the presence of my ancestor from above giving me signals of what to do and leading me to success.

I look into the future, seeing what is ahead of me. My ancestors will push me and help make sure that I am never giving up on my dreams. As generations pass down, I will become one of my ancestors, fearless, brave. I will also be a protector, to whom of a youngster. I have lead through tomorrow, I have been guided from today, but I also have not forgotten about yesterday.