THE LAST OF THE MAORI KINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 100, 28 April 1888, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE LAST OF THE MAORI KINGS.

Tawhiao's Lament.

Tawhiao Kingi! Nay, lam not him; To-day I am the shroud of yesterday. Andrc-t'-rday is dead ! My eyes are dim Wandering through Kaugi (1), where perchance I'll own More 'stablisued realms than old Te Whero's (2) throne. The shadows of the past are (3) tapu yet. And hold their viana (1) o'er the changeful day That fall around mo; and no base regret Shall mar the psalm'stry of departing lays; But like Tainul (5) so I'll breast the sea 1 or the Motu-tapu (6) of eternity. For changeful all, mere the (7) lies at rest And will not smite, or slaves bring to my call; Nor friends shall run to do my least behest, For, by myself—alone—this day I fall! Tawhiao, unconquered, lays his mana down, And gives the Queea his yet unsullied crown! For who will fight tho Atua? (8) He who stands With mighty stride across the unknown seas, And sends the Palceha (9) from teeming lands To Aotearoa (10), as swarming bees, Or countless sands upon the drifted shoro That, being measur'd, grow from great to more t Thou, Tamihana(ll), knew this day should be! For thy great heart was pouri <12)o'cr thy son{ So ltangi weeps when, sweeping from the sea. The heavy clouds enwrap the winter sun. So, like Te Whero-whcro, must I cry— "O! bury .kingship as a wanton toy." (13) For who would be a ruler o'er the dead, i ;r reign as king with but a landless race 1 The fair VVaikato like a maid has iio{l, And made me pouri o'er a lover's faoe; For she roturns no more! and lam left Of this my first— my early love bereft! (14) And I have seen my warriors on the plain Xa closely stand as gleams tho Milky Way With smiling stars; but with a cry of pain I've seen them drooping one by one away! So thou, great Wiremu |15), tho truest, best, Low llest now, with Potatau at rest. And Kereopa! (16) Ah! Thou too art gone To tho far Kcinga(l7) of thy wild desire! To meet, perchance, thy victims one by one, And still recount with mad prophetic ire Thy boastful vengeance, 'gainst their hated sway. Thou'rt gone; the Palceha is here to-day! And thou.Great Chief (18) whose love beats down til* soear! Thou conquerest all! Ay! friend as well as foe; Thy word remains—'tis wise for U3 to hear Thy word again, 'tis gojd ; forth let it go And bear its fruit.—We see the autumn leaves, The harvest comes — 'Tia ■well to bind tho sheaves! And as the golden treasure on the p^n Ripens, ere it be gathered to the store. So we will stand as living sheaves of grain. And let the past be hidden evermore. One monarch only, and one throne, so we May be one peopie crowned in unity! So thou hast fought (19). Thy utu (20) comes today, A victory of right o'er fancied wrong ; 'Tis easy lor the brave to bear the sway, And bo the stronger, being just and strong! So he i 3 mighty when his cause bis right. Though not the victor always in the fight! ! And thus I lay my regal mana down, To be no more Tawhiao! I have been As brave as ye and true ; yet take the'crown, .And place it with the many for our Queen ; And be the Pokcah, as the Maori, true, And thun unite the old land with the new!