- published: 08 Jul 2012
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A reimiro is a decorative crescent-shaped pectoral ornament once worn by the women of Easter Island. The name comes from the Rapanui rei 'stern' or 'prow' and miro 'boat'. Thus the crescent represents a Polynesian canoe.
Each side of the reimiro ended in a human head. The outer, display side had two small pierced bumps through which a cord was strung for hanging it. The inner side contained a cavity that was filled with chalk made from powdered seashells.
A reimiro provides the image of the Flag of Rapa Nui (Easter Island). It also appears to feature in the rongorongo script of Easter Island (as glyph 07: ), and one reimiro is preserved with a long rongorongo text.
Although the human heads on the reimiro are unique to Easter Island, the pectoral itself is part of a wider tradition. In the Solomon Islands, for example, women wear shell pectorals which resemble reimiro.
A reimiro is the emblem of the Flag of Rapa Nui.
A reimiro is the emblem of the Flag of Rapa Nui.
A large (61 cm) reimiro with very stylized heads. It may be that pectorals of this size were worn by men.
I got Aretha in the morning
High on my headphones and walking to school
I got the blues in springtime
'Cause I know that I'll never have the right shoes
Momma, she'd notice, but she's always crying
I got no one to confide in
Aretha, nobody but you
And Momma, she'd notice, but she's always fighting
Something in her mind and it sounds like breaking glass
I tell Aretha in the morning
High on my headphones and walking to school
I got the blues in springtime
'Cause I know that I'll never have the right shoes
You got the words
Baby, you got the words
You got the words
Baby, you got the words
Aretha
Aretha, I don't wanna go to school
'Cause they just don't understand me
And I think the place is cruel
Child
Singer, raise your voice
Stand up on your own
Go out there and strike out
I tell Aretha in the morning
High on my headphones and walking to school
I got the blues in springtime
'Cause I know that I'll never have the right shoes