Peace Plants New Guinea Poem by Kimberly Burnham

Found in a book
Reite Plants An Ethnobotanical Study
in Papua New Guinea
where is declared gutpela taim
peace in Tok Pisin
and calls for a "luhu ai gorgor man"
peace maker

Etlingera amomum
for making peace
our ancestors this plant
to calm people and spirits
to stop fights and arguments
counteracting the power of sorcery
and used in love magic

Planted in gardens
to discourage pests
our first ancestor Patuki decreed
a ‘Luhu man' in every place
stoping sorcery and fighting

In situations where spirits
or sicknesses cause
a maleficent influence
Etlingera amomum can free
them from that influence

It has the power to stop
the causes of sickness
and anger