MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Daily Times, 1 July 1933, Page 4

MAORI MEMORIES

(By J.H.S., for “The Daily Times.”) MORE TABLOIDS IN' VERSE. When he inflicted the English dictionary upon us in 1748, if Dr. Johnston had only conceived Hare Hongi’s poetic Maori method, what a joy for every girl and boy to learn! What a resource l for tongue tied lovers! Aroha Id Akoe—=My love towaird thee’ tis truly great, In life no thing can this abate. E nobo ra— Remain in peace, I must away A fond farewell to all who stay. Haere ra— You take your leave: I say depart, Farewell then, go in peace my heart. Haere mai— . * Come here to me, I want you so, 1 Need I add that, you surely know? Haere atu— Go away, be off, I need thee not, Nocr for thy presence care one jot. Waiata poi— A poi song and dance of grace A dream of girlish sinuous pace. Haka—A posture song and dance which gives An end to care: man joys and lives. Ra —- Lord of our day, the Sun on High The mighty one which rules our sky. Marama —• The moon, moonlight, at- night •supreme, The lover’s joy, the poet’s theme.' . Kainga—• Home of our childhood and our tears For tender thoughts of passing years. Korero— To speak and, what we needs must, say Our thoughts and meanings to convey., The beauty and simplicity of the Maori language, in which the literal meaning is not the principal one, find expression in poetic form more readily than in any translation. We who are but superficially educated in . Maori lore, legend, and language, cannot conceive the romance of memories which may be associated in their minds with a common word. In English, there is nothing but the' dictionary to guide us —in Maori they had a world of poetic association for every sentence.