Out on the lawn in front of the House
Korotangi and I are having a korero
He asks after me, and how I have been
without using words - just imagery
Stately and regal and perched on the grass
as big as a man but as wide as a horse
his giant, great head turns slowly towards me
with unblinking eyes looking into my soul
On an ordinary day in the middle of Wellington
miles away from my very own homelands
I now get inducted to take care of the birds
like my ancestors did many lifetimes ago...
Showing posts with label Wellington. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wellington. Show all posts
Sunday, 13 January 2013
Monday, 14 May 2012
52. Daughter of the Ocean
Deep in a dream she visited me
so I sat with the others, down at her feet
Descended from Tangaroa and daughter was she
of Rakataura from the Tainui canoe
Over all does she reign who dwell in the Sea
whether fish, whether taniwha, coral or whale
and here was this woman imparting to me
the story of Waikanae, while I was on leave
There are Waikanae many all over the World
all over the country as well this coast
but this single name links them together
a singular fountain of info and story
This is the place, of "bleeding hearts"
of where the forlorn come to be cured
and where all the healers come near and afar
and offer their love, their hearts and their prayers
This is where journeys end and begin
where waka set sail and people come in
A singular hub on the Wellington coast
for seafarers from the mighty Pacific
It's also the place where spirits were banished
out into the depths of our darkest oceans
Wiremu Ratana sending them there
due to their obstinance and unfounded fears
She takes us all down to the Waikanae shore
but I fear to tread out onto the sand
As I stand on the grass I see weather bombs
black menacing clouds, lightening striking the water
And out of the depths come dark lonely figures
one noticing me and moving towards me
"Get back in that water" I hear myself say
and see it move backwards, out into the wake
A powerful lesson learnt on this day
of the history and meaning in the name of this bay
Of what to look out for before setting sail
of healing or dispelling souls and their pain
so I sat with the others, down at her feet
Descended from Tangaroa and daughter was she
of Rakataura from the Tainui canoe
Over all does she reign who dwell in the Sea
whether fish, whether taniwha, coral or whale
and here was this woman imparting to me
the story of Waikanae, while I was on leave
There are Waikanae many all over the World
all over the country as well this coast
but this single name links them together
a singular fountain of info and story
This is the place, of "bleeding hearts"
of where the forlorn come to be cured
and where all the healers come near and afar
and offer their love, their hearts and their prayers
This is where journeys end and begin
where waka set sail and people come in
A singular hub on the Wellington coast
for seafarers from the mighty Pacific
It's also the place where spirits were banished
out into the depths of our darkest oceans
Wiremu Ratana sending them there
due to their obstinance and unfounded fears
She takes us all down to the Waikanae shore
but I fear to tread out onto the sand
As I stand on the grass I see weather bombs
black menacing clouds, lightening striking the water
And out of the depths come dark lonely figures
one noticing me and moving towards me
"Get back in that water" I hear myself say
and see it move backwards, out into the wake
A powerful lesson learnt on this day
of the history and meaning in the name of this bay
Of what to look out for before setting sail
of healing or dispelling souls and their pain
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