Verses from Maoriland/Onawe

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Verses from Maoriland

ONAWE

Peaceful it is: the long light glows and glistens         On English grass; Sweet are the sounds upon the ear that listens;—         The winds that pass
Rustle the tussock, and the birds are calling,         The sea below Murmurs, upon its beaches rising, falling,         Soft, soft, and slow.—
All undisturbed the Pakeha’s herds are creeping         Along the hill; On lazy tides the Pakeha’s sails are sleeping,         And all is still.
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Here once the mighty Atua had his dwelling         In mystery, And hence weird sounds were heard at midnight, swelling         Across the sea.
Here once the Haka sounded; and din of battle         Shook the grey crags, Triumphant shout, and agonized death-rattle         Startled the shags.
And now such peace upon this isthmus narrow,         With Maori blood Once red!—these heaps of stones,—a greenstone arrow         Rough-hewn and rude!
Gone is the Atua, and the hillsides lonely,         The warriors dead; No sight, no sound! the weird wild wailing only         Of gull instead.
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Come not the Rangatira hither roaming         As once of yore,To dance a ghostly Haka in the gloaming,         And feast once more?
Tena koe Pakeha! within this fortification         Grows English grass— Tena koe! subtle conqueror of a nation         Doomed, doomed to pass!
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