MAORI TANGI.

New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 774, 14 September 1853, Page 3

MAORI TANGI.

Lfrr no sound be heard but the " tangi" of woe, Heed not, for the moment, the triumph of tbe ; Let tears for a time blind the eyes to the past, Give way to your sorrow, for long will it last. The shield of your homes, and our "pa's" sure defence, Lies low in the forest, a long way from hence ; Leading our warriors he left our glad sight— Vainly you seek him now midst those from the fight. Tears for the present blind the eyes to the past, Give way to your sorrow, for long will it last. The gods of the earth to show their grief and ire, Bid the trembling hills send forth their flames of fire; Obedient Tongoriro, through his wide mouth, Poured out the liquid lava North and South, To East and West this boiling cm-rent rolled, Hiding the beauteous plain within its fold. Weak'mortals cannot thus show their rage and grief, But we'll wail for our brave one—our loved or.e —our chief. Tears for a time shall blind the < ye; to the past, Give way to your sorrow, for long will it last. They say that this grief of the gods'—Nature'* throe— The bright, black, lava will to future show ; But not so, the lighter pumice, which is found Scattered on all the streams and lakes around, Floating onwards to the oblivious sea, Emblem of Earth's common grief, ill suiting me. Tears for the present blind the eyes to the past, Give way to your sorrow, for long will it last. Bring here the sharp pointed cutting-stone of glass, Born of the infernal fives, round let it pass ; Freely my blood shall flow to cool my hot brain, Like the molten lava, on me be its stain. Oil, my heart will break !—both my hands does it tak<! To keep down these throbbings which beat for his sake. Tears for the present blind the eyes to the past, Give way to your sorrow, for long will it last. A long train of captive slaves you shall soon take, Every tear drop now shed an orphan shall make : Let vengeance be weighed by your present pain, Well shall the old " Utu" law pay for the slain. Present tears shall be as streams of our sorrow. Filling a lake of revenge, to be thought on tomorrow. No rest will my heart know till the sleep of death, Like the " Kahakaha" stirred by lightest breath The trees of the forest may not feel the breeze, But thou, the poor trembler, art never at ease. Tears for the present blind the eyes to the past Give way to your sorrow, for long will it last.' Loud and long let your wailings be, let them reach To that lone, silent cliff by the far beach, Where his spirit stands, gazing on this world of • Hght,' .. , With thoughts for tho3e left behind at his last flight. The fathers in the "Reinga," below the wave Shall welcome him as the ever great, the brave. So fchall it be: •Tears for fie present blind the eyes io the past 1 Give way to your sorrow, for long will it last.