Page:A New Zealand verse (1906).pdf/172

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The Last Haka.
“The Tuis came the Hawk to kill,  Kapai! Rauparaha!And yet the Hawk is living still,  Kapai! Rauparaha!The Hawk can soar, the Hawk can fight—The Tuis tried to stay his flight—The Hawk shall have a feast to-night,  Kapai! Rauparaha!
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“Slaves should have but little words,  Kapai! Rauparaha!Little songs for little birds,  Kapai! Rauparaha!Little Tuis should not tryWith their little wings to flyWhere the Hawk is perched on high,  Kapai! Rauparaha!”

Thomas Bracken.

LXXX.

The Last Haka.

And then they danced their last war-dance to gainThe physical fever of the blood and brainThat might their dashed and drooping spirit sustain,Nor let their flagging courage fail or flinch.Then formal frenzy in full play was seen;The dancers seemed a mob of maniacs, swayedBy one insane volition, all obeyed,Their mad gesticulations to enactWith frantic uniformity, exact
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