RHYMES FOR THE TIMES
A WELCOME TO TAWHIAO. Hail, Tawhiao ! from thy forest home. Tohunga ! Rangatira wise ! Whose word the Hapu'n hold for doom ! Upon whose arms each chief relies ! Come, king of men ; old Tawhiao, come, We hail thee from thy forest home ! Come, with thine arm6d warriors strong, And gaze upon thine old domain ; Forgive the bitter, ancient wrong. And take us to thy heart again. That grand free heart, the brave man's home ! Come, king of men : old Tawhiao, come ! He lays his treasured weapon down Upon the land once all his own ; He gazes round, without a frown, Upon the rising, goodly town : Then, by his chieftain's mouth, explains Peace fallen on us like summer rains ! Oh, Maori ! in thy rainga wide, Man hospitable, bold and free : Oh, Maori ! 'ere thy dark blue tide Was ploughed by keels of every sea ; Of living heart in savage breast, Thine was the noblest and the best ! Oh, keep thy land ! thy freedom keep ! We have enough, we need it not ; Let the past deadly warfare sleep, And Rangariri be forgot ; Live with us side by side and be Meet comrades of the brave and free !
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Bibliographic details
Observer, Volume II, Issue 44, 16 July 1881, Page 485
Word Count
197RHYMES FOR THE TIMES Observer, Volume II, Issue 44, 16 July 1881, Page 485
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