Powhiri - Jacq Carter
My sadness is
I have never known
a kuia fold me
in her arms
My sadness is
that what I know
was not told me
by my kaumatua
My sadness is
that I don't have the reo
that what I feel
can't be fully told
but I hear the call of my tupuna
the strongest karanga I know
I bow my head
with respect for them
and from them I draw strength
they walk with me
as I take my first steps
towards all that is theirs
ka tangi te titi
ka tangi te kaka
ka tangi hoki ahau
Tihei mauri ora!
ki nga mate kua haere ki te po
ka tangihia e ahau i tenei wa
haere, haere, haere atu ra
(2007). D. O'Meara (Ed.), Voices of the Pacific: A poetry resource Auckland: Pearson Education.
My sadness is that what I know was not told me by my kaumatua
ReplyDeleteMy sadness is
that I don't have the reo
that what I feel
can't be fully told
Its giving
So what you do if when you ok but he said yes would go