right to reside

Our meeting creeps closer, we're happy to say, the one that will allow all our people to stay within these tight borders of which we've grown fond, among vast rice-paddies and swaying palm-fronds. We twelve have been granted the right to reside here where our forefathers they struggled and died defending the honor of this tiny fleck that is with rich temples and fine shrines bedecked. The first delegation to land on these shores did come here to learn about the daily chores that all these proud people do without much fuss – mostly 'cause they want to not just 'cause they must. As soon as they got here they joined right on in, and taught a few youngsters to twist rope and swim, and married some daughters and some sisters too, and made a few babies (that's what people do). Then came the invasion by him nasty Dutch whose patience was little whose anger was much who tore out the hearts of the neighboring kings (the proud Balinese though would have no such thing). Our people they fought against Dutchie and Jap, with spear knife and rifle, with spring-loaded trap, and threw those foul outlaws back into the sea and hung up their entrails – like garlands – from trees. The Balinese people did not soon forget the wee contribution from Geriguv'yet and welcomed us back to this magical isle where we do believe we shall stay for a while.

© americanifesto / 場黑麥