Hearth Of Peace And Plenty Poem by Kimberly Burnham

Orbiting the Milky Way
are two Magellanic Clouds
dwarf galaxies
visible in the Southern Celestial hemisphere

sometimes called mist and vapor
in Tongan "ma afu" Magellanic Clouds
"ma afu lele"flying fire
and "ma afu toka" stationary fire'

In Bauan they are matādravu ni sautū
literally hearth of peace and plenty
a primary reference point for navigation
on their journey these two twin brothers
keep an eye on the world

Dreamtime beings
creating different languages
before making their home
in the Magellanic Clouds

Another tale of two brothers
Debui and Teikui went fishing
off the southwestern end of Mabuiag Island
as was their right

Sometimes cooking fish together
sometimes quarreling
and moving farther apart in the skyward home
an illusion
as the Magellanic Clouds are fixed

An ancient Tongan chief
sent his mischievous sons
Maafu Toka and Maafu Lele
on a dangerous mission
to kill a huge fish and a wild duck

Samoan legend states
the "sumu" fish and "toloa" duck
sent up to heaven
with Maafu-lele running fire
and Maafu-toka lying stationary fire