TE HAKA

New Zealand Graphic, 20 December 1894, Page 6

TE HAKA

BvApikana T. Noata, B.A. (Canterbury College). One dear scene in my mind's eye is floating. Martial, warlike, yet so graceful, Staged in meads that heard no bleating Save of savage babes at play. There the old pa stands to-day Where the mountain clad in koukas Bends with gentle slope, and fondly Showers kisses on the stream. Rippling, laughing, winding, moaning, Hies she on to join the ocean, Emblem of a race that’s speeding Sadly onwards to oblivion. Day is breaking on that pa, All within is bustle, stir. ’Tis the hour of dedication— Te Kaicanga, solemn consecration, When our whare in its beauty, Tukutuku, pukana, e Korirari ! Only to the gods in heaven With our war dance must be given. All day long from far and near The crowds pour in to see and hear. Amid this group are chieftains bold— Rewi, Taonui—names of old. Yonder Kahumunu, mere in hand, Frowning, marshals forth his band— Te Rarawa, Tainui mete Whakatohea, Whakaata, Taupare, Tuwhakairiora. A noble sight, th’ intruding band, But grander yet unfolds itself. Yonder massed, one sea of forms, Maids with warriors alternating. In the van are maidens lovely Dressed in mats of finest fibre Cheeks with takou gaily hued Plumed with quills of rarest huia Beyond—but no—no more is seen Though hundreds lie to shout ‘ Baeremai.' The maids must first display their graces Then we’ll gaze on warriors’ faces. Softly and gently ; and chanting most sweetly Uplift they their welcome * Bae- emai f * Haeremai !' With knees bent gracefully, with s ow step and gesture As soft as the panther, yet queenly and stately ! Hark ! now, it is changing ! in chorus they’re joining ! It swells and it rings, it bursts forth triumphant! In voice and in gesture, in body and limb Their welcome is spoken, * Haeremni P • haeremai P How nimbly they foot it ! How supple their bodies ! Ye fauns and ye nymphs, beware of your laurels ! These children untutored, by nature endowed May charm yet Apollo, the god of all graces. But now, behold I the nymphs subside, The rythmic motion’s ceased, and lo ! The ranks give way, the van files off Unfolding terror to our view. Rows of warriors, dusky, warlike, Line the earth and make it bristle All recumbent, silent, speechless, Seeming in lethargic sleep. Aotearoa’s sons ! ye warriors stern ! Awake ! awake ! they come ! they come! ‘ Welcome, ye strangers ! thrice welcome ; thrice welcome I Respond ye to the call so feebly, Though your war-paint glows so fiercely ; Welcome, ye strangers ! NaumaH Naumui!' Ah ! ye sluggards, raise your voices Up and stamp and tread like Maoris; ’Tis the haka pohiri, war-dance, Fierce and warlike, savage, martial, ’Me kore e. tutaki Be pupu kari kawa He puuu harerorero hai! Ka tikok< ! Ka tahuri ! Ka t'koki ! Ka tahuri ! Ka tahuri ra Nui Tireni i aue /’

Ah ! your blood is coursing now, Ah ! your spirit's roused at last, Ha ! the welcome rings out clear : ‘ Pohiritia atu ! Haeremai! Haeremai!' Heads erect and body stately, Proud, imperious, yet be graceful, Arms and limbs in rythm moving, Mars, Apollo, are reviewing. • Tenn i takahia !' with motion majestic Their arms now wide sweeping, their hands all a-trem-bling, Now circles describing; then to heaven uplifted ; Their bodies set firmly ; yet limbs in mid-air ; ‘ Tenn i pakia !’ with knee-joints set loose, With frenzy in gesture, with eyebrows contracting, With eyes glowing fiercely, with bounding and leaping But mark, mild Apollo the war-god is soothing, • Puhiritia atu ! Haeremai ! Baen mai P a Ah ! warriors are leaping, the ranks they are surging • The war-god has conquered, the war-cry is raised. ’ ’Tis sounding ! ’Tis swelling! ’Tisroaring! ’Tisthundering ! Ha ! frenzy thou workest, ’tis blood now they smell. ‘ The battle ! the battle ! our taiahas and meres,’ They shout as they leap ; a madness has seized them • Talco kc to kairangatira, 1 ako P . I J Ir .t pi o ana ?A’> ia ,he Bon of • Maori chief belonging to the Poverty Bay district. He received his secondary education at TeAute College, from whence he proceeded to Canterbury College, Christchurch, where he graduated. The above poem was awarded first prise in connection with the Auckland iciterarv Societies Union Annual Competition. y