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Waka Huia

by LONGJON 

Posted: 17 May 2004
Word Count: 229
Summary: After the style of Hone Tuwhare


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Cold lies the heart of man on this forgotten day,
Silent and cowed are the voices of our people.
Gone the tall pride, the haughty valour
And gone the trembling of those who opposed us.

Lift your shameful heads and look about you
See our people shaking like naughty children.
If you have the courage to seek your pride again,
Look in the dust under your feet.

For there it lies, like dog shit, stinking in the sun.
The pride of Tainui is trodden on,yes, even by the Tuhoe.
You who stood against the cannon of the Pakeha,
And cut down again and again their proud colours.

Yet today, Tumatauenga spits on us and turns away.
The name of coward He has given us,
Tattooed on every Tainui man and woman.
And He has turned our whakapapa into kindling.

Open your hearts and open your eyes, Tainui,
The sun still shines warm on our backs.
The taiaha and the mere still lie close to hand
So Aue! Aue! to War, to War!

(Background: Waka Huia – literally Feather Canoe, but actually a highly carved “Treasure” box, a holder of things of great value...Tainui / Tuhoi – tribes, the first larger than the second...Pakeha - people who are not Maori, here meaning European colonists...Tumatauenga – God of War…Whakapapa –lineage, of great importance...Taiaha / Mere – weapons...Aue! – rather like Banzai!






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Comments by other Members



gard at 01:45 on 18 May 2004  Report this post
Hi LJ

this is simply beautiful I cannot say anymore. I have read it several times. I really like it! I adore the last stanza!


Well done!!!!

(extra exclamations for extra emphasis ha ha)
G

joanie at 13:00 on 18 May 2004  Report this post
LJ, I love this. I have read through the Hone Tuwhare in Poetry Seminar a few times but haven't contributed a comment yet, but I find it very, very powerful.
I can really sense the feelings in this piece. The images are very strong - I can see it!
joanie

roovacrag at 16:17 on 18 May 2004  Report this post
Very well done.
I have read this over and over and loved each word.
Write on.
xx Alice

LONGJON at 22:27 on 18 May 2004  Report this post
Hello Gina, hello Joanie, hello Alice,

Thankyou all for your generous comments - I thought after I had written this (pinched a bit of time at work yesterday!) that I was probably writing with an unfair advantage, but pride as an expression of self confidence is universal, isn't it?

John P.

Nell at 08:25 on 20 May 2004  Report this post
John, you've tuned into the voice of the poet himself, without feeling the need to follow the form of the first poem. Powerful stuff.

Nell.

tinyclanger at 13:35 on 22 May 2004  Report this post
John,
Excellent evocation of the original, in fact in some ways going beyond because you suggest that a return to the old ways is possible, which for me, Tuwhare does not. Almost like a final do or die assault, even though it is futile, the warriors are called to fight one last time, so that they can die like warriors and not like fantails! I thought of the Native American Chief, (was it Crazy Horse?) and "It is a good day to die"...

You weave the traditional words in skilfully, they did not break my enjoyment at all, and just aded to the authenticity of the piece. The 'voice' is perfectly in keeping.
"He has turned our whakapapa into kindling."
I found this a particularly strong image, even given the little I know about the culture, I can see how this would be a striking accusation to make.

Very Impressive
x
tc



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