POETRY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3656, 30 December 1879, Page 3

POETRY.

PAORA NONOI. The following poem (much above the average of such productions) referring ac it does to a certain Hawke's Bay land transaction, with respect to which our WellingtoE correspondent has frequently telegraphed, will doubtless bo read with interest : — Beforo I pass to Te Reinga, (1) Tho placo whoro tho spirits leap away, Givo ear, my people, tho ioenga, (2) Io the gloom and the shadow of my last day ; For our old Tununa, (3) with beckoning hands, Pou-Jiiri (4) tne to the far off shore. To tho place of tho sun and the golden sands, Whore the woo of the tangi (5) is known no more Givo ear, my people, bond down to hear, For the voice of Paul is woak and low, Bnt the noise of tbo revellors is near, And the stink of thoir deadly icaipiro. (6) I am not strong as I need to be When I stood and shouted our battle cry, Bnt my kupu poroporoaki. (7) Let it be spoken before X die. In the ancient days, ere the great ships came, Liko itirge-winged birds from tho uttermost wave, Onr peoplo wore free from the sin and tho shame And drank of tho water the Atua (8) gave ; But tho pale-face came witb his iron aud sold, And his tohungas (9) with their angry God, And wo die no more ns tlie chiefs of old, But pcrißh of poison in our blocd. Liko flowers tbat wither ben oath the sun Our sons aad daughters lie dead in graves, And tho tapucd (10) places aro over-run By tbo stumbling feet of druukon slaves ; And tho bonus of tho sacred dead Ho bare Whore the iron plough has turned tho soil ; While tho hearts of our pooplo are dark with oare, And thoir shoulders bent with enslaving toil. And the lands of our father 3 aro passing away, Till no place be lefc for the soles of onr feot j And the maddening rum makes sure of its prey ; And the bright gold glitters; and food is sweet ; And their greedy bauds nro outstretched for gain, Whilo tbeir lips are red with the waipiro, That poisons the blood nnd dulls tho brain, Like tho stiDg of the deadly kalipo (11). I hear tho voico of Bora- bold, Loud, mocking, with a drunken jest, Not that sweet, childish voico of old That sang the setting snn to rest. Our daughters flaunt in robes of shame — Tho bright, red, gaudy, fraxilo things— Liso moths that flutter round a flume, And fall with soiled and scorched wings. Who's he that comes with stealthy tread ? Tall, strong of limb, with cunning faco. And low, soft voico - a voico I droid— Ho comes to steal our dwelling-place. Take ba"k jour deed j I cannot sign ; My sigh's is dim— my hand is weak— 'Tis all tbo tnbo'o— it is not niirio - I will not rob nja tamariki. (12) Go ! Let me die ! See ! I gasp for broath— Leave this last hour to my tribe and mo, And do not disturb tbo bouse of death With tho noise of yonr drnnken revelry. They nre gone those two ? Wo are safe again From the hands tbat steal and tho lips that lure, And. perchance. I may pass beyond without pain, Whoro our ancestors call from tho AoWairtta. (13) They are gone ! It is g iod ! My sons bo bravo And strong to romembor my dying behest, For I hear the slow, wan wash cf tho wave On Te Reinga'a sboro, tho placo of rest. You will bear me away in tbe darkness of night To Po/iu Kura (14) the place of the dead, And hido my bouoa from the 1 .nd buyers' Bight, And guard my grave from tho surveyors* tread. You bavo known tho swift-footed i>wa (15) flee And his foot- prints vanish ont of tho land, Whon the pakcha (16) came as the sands of the sea And grasped ihe soil with bis strong right hand. As tho moa has gone, so yo shall decay, And tbe last of our race shall disappear. But hold to the whenua (17) while ye may, Jfct konci / Alt ufcupit pui-ifia .' (18) .. , HIKDBAKQI. Notes.— l. To Eeinga-riaco of departed spirits. i. loenga— A remnant. 3. Ancestors. 4. Welcome, beckon anyone to come on. 5. A dirgo, or lament. G. Alcohol. 7. The last v/ords uttered by a dying chief. 8. God. 9. Priests 10. Saored, holy. 11. A venomous Bpider. Vi. Tho children. .• Jl ° „ of B P' rit s* »• The Eaorcd burial placo of tho Ngatikahungunu tribo. 15. Dinornis; extinct birds. 10. Foreigner. 17. Land. 18. Good bye I Hold to my words.