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 #52 titled Y Prensa. Enjoy!

Y Prensa

I remember my mother telling me
How she used y prensa* to iron her clothes
Because back then
There was no such thing as an electric iron.
She’d have to go get tesson*
Which would be burning inside the iron
Releasing the heat
That would be used to press the clothes.
Y prensa,
A small, yet heavy household appliance
Carefully crafted out of iron,
Is no longer used today.
But it’s a reminder of Guam’s past
Of how our people were resourceful
And they made do with what they had.
© mnrivera and ltgumataotao

*y prensa: iron
*tesson: fire stick

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