#1
Pounamu Heart
In Pouto we can
loose ourselves
and become friends
we can feel like
we have come home
relax with our Ancestors
and listen to what is foretold
as we learn to grow together
and get our feelings told
Only to look upon you
my children, with my
loving eyes
my tears will wash
the stones from our lives
keep the feelings flowing
smoothing the pounamu heart
life's riverbed
#2
The Great Pa
My eyes trace ever back
to the interior; deviate to
shell strata; where the road
cuts through hillock.
this landscape has such proportion-
your shell beds reveal your presence
not too long ago -
Buried with the fires ashes
Tipua - your appetitie for cockels & pipis;
claim to the whenua, evident -snapper jawbone, fish scale, neck bone,
shell
Tipua - your mouths ate of these, your fingers made greasy - Sacred
Refuse.
In time, the coast & shelf overcame -
Now the Great Pa
Vessels new verse, to the feral winds cry.
Tipua - your Mokopuna play closest to the edge
to soothe the pain of subsidence - Aue!
Calling my son - warning him of my fears.
Alas, It is I who does not know
the safety of you - Tipua.
Protectecting the Tangata Whenua.
At the foot of the great Pa
Is Kath & Steve's Whare - the old social club -
A white horse grazes, stands as the whenua
retraces movements under the feet of ancestors
Atop the great Pa
we are between the darkness & the light
we look in to the waha of the kaipara
back to the Urupa - tide and time overcomes man - rain & time.
#3
Whare
I build our Whare
at night.
Each corner post
I set with riverstone
and clay.
Each strong Kanuka Post
I beset with Kaha; with Mana
Manuka struts I bind
with Harakeke
I entwine
Taonga Dreams
I strap the binding
with vigour; lust for
Te Po.
Nikau Fronds
Platted; intertwined
conceal us; beneath us
Fine mats woven
with your long
gentle fingers,
on these we make love; we sleep
beneath the flaxen ceiling
enraptured,
secure in the storm
I wrap you in Kanuka post
Honey, blood and flame.
Yes I yearn for the
fires of the whare.
