YOUNG MAORIS COME TO TOWN

Te Ao Hou, September 1963, Page 15

YOUNG MAORIS COME TO TOWN They come to the cities from the coast and inland farms The young bronzed ones, leaving no trace among the mamaku, Their voices stilled along the ridges of the rain-forests, Remembered only by grandmothers in shawls who, with poignant gesture Point towards the distant north and sigh. They come with fear and caution trembling in their looks of appraisement, Not knowing but sensing the new ways different from And so far removed from the kumara paddock and paddling on the river. The happy deep of the ways of earth and fish and sea is left behind, Though still in the blood tide flowing, whispers, and no Jezebel city Shall entirely absorb the young bronzed ones from the coasts and tired inland farms.