He waiata tangi mo Te Aritahi

Tu Tangata, Issue 21, 1 December 1984, Page 44

He waiata tangi mo Te Aritahi

Tenei ka noho, kapakapa tu ana te tau o taku ate Me rau kahakaha, me rau harakeke. I pono kite pupuri, te tukupototia Rori ki Te Reinga! Kia whai muri au Te tira Te Aritahi! Naku rawa i tuku atu I te tira mokemoke, kihai i tarurutia Ki o manu raia! Waiho i roto nei Mapu kau kite ao hau nei. Pukohu whenua taku nei e mihi nei, He rehu tai moana taku nei e tangi. Whakamau noa ake ki runga i nga puke. Amio noa ana te kahui pi nei, Kaore nei he matua. Tena ka riro I t_e herenga kakano, i te huanga miro. Naku rawa i tuku atu, e tahaka noa nei. Nowhea ra e hoki mai te mea ka oti atu? Ka nuku au, ka mamao, ka to te tatau ei!

Here I sit with my heartstring beating Like a kahakaha leaf, a flax leaf. Oh he was held fast, the road to Te Reinga Was made short! Let me follow after Te Aritahi As he sets out on his journey! I let you go On your lonely journey, you were not persuaded to come back To your birds! Here within, I am left Sobbing towards the wind-blown clouds. It is the mist on the land that I greet, They spray on the ocean over which I weep. Always I gaze up at the hills. This flock of young birds keeps flying around, Fatherless. He is gone as the birds are speared Among the berries, as the miro fruit ripen. I let him go, quite naked! How can he return, he who is gone forever? I will go far away, into the distance, and the door will shut!