VANIMO AND RAKAPU.

Otago Witness, Issue 2650, 28 December 1904, Page 77

VANIMO AND RAKAPU.

Ere yet had come in days of yore The white man to New Zealand s shore, Waikawa's stiream ran silver white, And, sparkling to the ocean bright, But now, like to a, gruesome eel, Its sable waters slowly steal Where golden kowhai's yellow bloom, Smile down upon its horrid gloom. An ancient settler ence abode Near where the river darkly flowed; And he had garnered ample store Of cuious tales and native lore; From him I learned way Maoris say, The river runs thus black to-day. Nigh to where a bridge's shadow Falls to-day athwart the flood, On a fern-olad, sheltered meadow Onoe a Maori village stood. Children, in and out the whares, Frolicked round in merry play, Sportive little sun-browned Maoris, Happy all the livelong day. Vanimo, the chieftain's daughter, Queenlike ruled the joyous throng, Or, beside the rushing water, Wove her future to its song. Eaven hair, in wavy tresses, Clustered o'er her shapely head, Fondling with its soft caresses Cheeks embrowned and tinged with red. Matchless both in form and beauty; Graceful as an eastern palm; Yielding childlike filial duty; Sweeter than the fragrant jbalm. 'Midst her hair the ratals fire Blazes t on its night-black throne, , Fading on that glorious* pyre, Sure for death may well atone. Sixteen springs had given lightness To her footsteps in the race; summers' rosy brightness Shone resplendent in her face: Sixteen autumns gave her figure Grace that nought but health can claim; Sixteen winters lerifc their vigour To her strong and supplte frame. To her father's whare steal ing Came a warrior, young and bold, And with burning words, appealing, Vanimo his love lie told. Bakapu, her handsome lover, Heir to all ihis father's pride, Lived beyond the crystal river. On Waikawa-'s distant side. Tribal hatreds, long enduring, Kept the lovers twain apart; Hindered them the bliss securing That enthralled each tender heart. Bakapu would fain, have ventured O'er the stream to join liis love, But her sweet command prevented: Less to her the risk would prove. When the forest giants shiver 'Neath tE© night wind's chilly breath, On the rocksssne crossed the river, Leaping light from death to death. To and fro; 'twjxt home and lover, On the stones" as smooth as ice, Had the maiden hurried over ' _To his raptures from his sighs. Love that in our joy rejoices, And that lightens pain a.nd woe. Love that sings in happy voices" 1 , Led' the feet of "Vanimo; Led her safely -o'er the" chasm, "Where the raging waters flew, • Foaming, through the dark 'abysm. Led ( her safe to Jlakapu. Oft. had crossed the happy maideii - To her handsome lover's side, Now, with marriage garlands laden, Came 'again a .wedded bride. But tbesidE the flashing torrent »x» x Lurkecl a "monster, grim and viie, Of her' death ■ the certain- warrant • Should the rocks her steps beguile. By the river "dwelt this creature* Known as Taniwan to fame, ' Like an eel in form and f eatura^ Crimes its evil life 'proclaim. . Passion, born of seraphs' kissea^ Snaring animals and man, Even passion- such as this i 3 > Stirred 'the pulse of Taniwan. Loving briars vainly held her, Trees for naught their boughs bent low; Useless warnings bell-birds knelled her, Towards her doom flew Vanimo. . Hastening to the noisy river, Where the roar its course reveals, ~~ Vainly all things warnings give her, Marks she not their mute appeals. Midway o'er the rivei leaping, On a glassy stone she stood, Viewed a while the village sleeping In the shadows of the wood. Then she cried: "FareweL, dear whare, Where I spent my happiest days! Heaven grant no savage foray, Waste' tliy fields with axe and blaze. "Peace enfold tfky tranquil bowers', Keep them safe from war's ai.arms, Here I passed my youthful hours i Sheltered v in , my - mother's arms. Far from, home I now must wander, Other shores 'my feet will press, Still, my heart, though absent yonder, Will regret her fond caress. "Not again, yon firelight glancing, Shall my weeping eyes beho.d, Not again the ohildren dancing , Round about that cottage old. Who will bring themTnow sweet berries, Charm. 1 away the fretful tear? Who will ease my mother's worries, Or prepare ■my father's bier? "When the night clouds, soft, descending, Wrap the drowsy earth in shade, Then my mother, wet eyes, bending, G-a.zes where my steps have strayed; Begs the winds and' birds to bring hex News about her dear one's lot; Prays the kindly sun to linger t With its sunshine o'er my cot. "Here I stand, 'twixt home and lov«r, Guardian friends on either hand, Yet, meseerns, my thoughts discovek Evil stealing o'er tihe land. No! 'tis but the evening zephyr Sighing past with icy breath ; 'Tis my craven fears that whisper, It betokens coming death." From her hair she took the feather, Emblem of her maiden life, Flung it forth uipon. the river Racing by in foam and strif* In that instant, slowly gliding, Taniwan the rock drew mgj^ Sent a billow o'er it, sliding, Hurling Vanimo to die. Far within the forest mazes, Vanimo' s expiring ories Beach her lover as he gazes Through the glades with eager eyes. Anguish-torn, he fears and hurries, Learns her fate andi all his woe, Leaping in, hi 3 grief he bxxries 'Neath tbe waves with Vanimo. Rakapu, the darkling river Crosses to the Jasper Sea, Where the Blessed Isles for ever Glow with joy and radiancy. There the chieftain, finding straightway Vanimo, his peerless wife, I/aarn-s that Death is but the gateway 1© a .purer, sweeter life.

When the fading daylight lingers O'er Waikawa's dusky bowers, When the sun's departing fingers Paint in rosy hues th« hours, Then ihe maidens, clouds perceiving, Flitting ghostlike o'er the s"kj, Whisper, in their hearts believing: "Vanimo is passing by." When the boisterous gales of winter Roar about the cottage dooi, And the forest giants splinter, And tie rains in toi-ents pour, Then the goodman, piling higher Wood within the chimney wide, Tells the cMdren Tound the fire How the faithful Maori died: Tells how Heaven, for obeying Taniwan, the river cursed, On the stream this judgment laying, Never yet by Time reversed: "Crystal clear o'er golden gravel, Now thy silvery waters flow, Black as night henceforth they travel, Mourning for sweet Vanimo." X. Y. Z. December, 1904.