Aotearoa
AOTEAROA, Fragile flower afloat ‘Neath the watchful eye of 10, ‘Neath the Southern Cross Io the Great Io the Immeasurable. Aotearoa, Home of the voyager, the fisherman Sanctuary of the planter, the weaver The mountaineer, the master carver, the scribe From the four winds.
Born out of the myths of Maui Of King Arthur, Merlin And Milton Of Kupe, Toi and Whatonga Tasman Cook and Batten. AOTEAROA, Embracing twin heritages, Lies still, quiet, alert Basking in light celestial The beauteous flower Of the Southern seas.
AOTEAROA Gave substance to Koromiko Matai and Manuka, To birch, willow and lantana Now nurtures offspring Treasuring the Pounamu Leek, rose, thistle. Emblems of roots from The distant past Now in strength entwining.
AOTEAROA, Focus of myriads From the new Hawaiki Forging links of generations Instilling the gentle aura The sounds of laughter To stifle the deadly monotony And lustreless life Of factory floors In cities, concrete encased.
AOTEAROA Indeed the flower of ethereal loveliness Did we not sing Of thy beauty Five decades now gone? Words clinging to memory Words which stirred.... “Thy mantel of Manuka Perfumes the breeze.” Thy mantle, now, surges from your tamariki, The children of the multi-hued flower ‘Neath the sleepless eye of Io Io the Great Io the Immeasurable.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/TUTANG19830401.2.27
Bibliographic details
Tu Tangata, Issue 11, 1 April 1983, Page 34
Word Count
211Aotearoa Tu Tangata, Issue 11, 1 April 1983, Page 34
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