I Surrender
     By Suzanna Kennedy

I surrender to the coconuts that fall unto my roof and wake me up at night

I surrender to the roosters that crow before dawn

I surrender to the mangos too numerous to harvest, that litter my yard, fermenting

I surrender to gecko poop on my furniture

I surrender to the mold that belies the moist salt air

I surrender to you, Kauai

You have stripped me naked of all my armor and weapons

You’ve struck down my defenses against love

Defenses against vulnerability

Against intimacy

And authenticity

I’ve done battle with you, Kauai

Trying to keep your abundance at bay

To preserve my illusion of order

Trying to squeeze your love into shapes and forms that where familiar

But why?

Those forms never worked for me anyway

Those forms were my prison

Why cling?

Why fight?

Why force and push?

Why labor at all?

I surrender to you, Kauai

You win

Go ahead and love me anyway you want