When our friend Mary Anna Grimes learned that she and former Merwin Conservancy poet-in-residence Carrie Fountain shared a hometown, Mary Anna reached out to the local bookstore in their beloved Mesilla, New Mexico, to order Carrie’s latest book. Soon, thirty copies of The Poem Forest: Poet W.S. Merwin and the Palm Tree Forest He Grew from Scratch were on their way to Mary Anna’s home in Kula, on Maui. She wasn’t quite sure at the time into whose hands these books would make their way, but she followed her love of both places – the palm garden here on Maui and her childhood home in Mesilla – and relished the idea of gifting the story to others. After months went by with no sign of the books, Mary Anna ordered a second set, and soon all sixty copies arrived on her doorstep! Mary Anna called me, and together we wondered how and with whom we might share Carrie’s beautiful story of a place “where the wounded earth healed.”
After the Maui fires, we knew just what to do. Mary Anna had taught sixth grade in Lāhainā for decades. She reached out to Princess Nahieʻenaʻena Elementary, which has served as the temporary site of King Kamehameha III Elementary School since Kam III’s oceanside buildings were lost to the flames in August. Last week, Mary Anna and I drove into Lāhainā with a trunk full of books, and met up with the librarians of both schools. Mary Anna read the story to 58 keiki, many of whom had lost all of their belongings, and gave each of them a Poem Forest of their own. Mahalo nui to Mary Anna, to Carrie Fountain, to the teachers and librarians at Princess Nahieʻenaʻena and King Kamehameha III Elementary Schools for a very special morning of poems and palms, and place.
Diana Saltoon says
What a heart-warming story! Gifting to those to children and introducing them to M.S. Merwin and his creation of the Palm Forest. I’m sure they loved the inspiration and knowing that Lahaina itself, their home place, will be rebuilt with love, as Merwin did the Palm Forest. I hope more events like this may lighten the hearts of not only the keiki but their parents as well. Mahalo nui to you, Mary Anna and Carrie Fountain.
Patricia O'Neill says
This is fantastic! Mahalo to Mary Anna and Carrie Fountain. Wonderful way to introduce the children to positive action for healing the Aina.
Virginia Beck says
Wonderful news. Inspires me to add The Conservancy to my Global Legacy~Pay it Forward donations.
Virginia Beck says
Yes, thank you so. Much donation coming shortly