Fijian Green Poem by Kimberly Burnham

In Fijian there is a word "bativou"
for a person who prefers green fruit
rather than fruit fully mature
"vou" is new and by extension "bativou"
a person attracted to those younger
often said of men attracted to a younger woman

Another word "Mata drokadroka" suggests a fresh gleaming face
a baby-face or youthful countenance
while "matadrokadroka" is also queasy
sickly green faced

"Drokadroka" the color green
describes vegetation and sometimes fish
but not water or the sea
means green or uncured firewood
following a tradition
Fijians names of colors always associated
with specific objects

"Kara-karawa" blue things
the sky, the sea, fish
as in "sa karakarawa na draki"
a relatively cloudless day with a blue sky
formerly meant either blue or green
inspired by the color of light
bouncing from Fiji parrots
depends on the viewing angle

"Drokadroka" used for the abstract color of green
mainly plants
"karakarawa" a species of edible parrot fish
blue and green as implied by the name
Chlorurus sordidus