Hafa Adai! As part of my commitment to continue to share cultural poems relating to our beautiful island of Guam and its people, here’s Korasón Poem #33 titled Y Kareta Hu – Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Enjoy!

Y Kareta Hu –
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

“Chitty Chitty, Bang! Bang!,”
I sometimes say to myself.
For in our family
We had our own very special, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
I remember that it was a Mazda B-2200 pickup
That we kids shared.
It was color black
With bangs here and there
From left to right
With bruises and scratches –
Evidence of our joyful and fearful rides.

It was our Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
That we all used for our first drive
To take to school
To do errands from Yigo to Malesso.
To place our loveable nenis in,
As cramped as we were.
Yet, it was also our Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
That we got our first car accident in
As we slammed another car
On a slippery and wet road one terrible day.
It was our Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
That my brothers had backed up with
As they slammed into a wall
Carelessly rushing to get somewhere.
I remember how we tried to cover up
The damages on our Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
As we cleaned inside and outside of our house
Making it sparkling clean
With an aroma of spring freshness
While also cooking up a superb and delicious treat.
Though my parents were delighted
With our household efforts
It was not too long
Before they realized what we had done
To our Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Those were the days…

You know,
We’ve had a lot of special memories
With our Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
And though he’s gone in Auto Heaven now
I will always remember him –
Here’s to our good ‘ole Chitty Chitty Bang Bang!
Y kareta hu!
© mnrivera and ltgumataotao

*nenis: babies
*Y kareta hu: My car


Source: Our Native Daughters’ Reflection of Guam and Its People by Dr. Matilda Naputi Rivera and Lois Taitano Gumataotao