24th April 1947 – 29th October 2011
The Eulogy of the Ta-o-Maui
Ngapuhi subtribe of Hokianga. N.Z.
Coined by Henare Rapaere Karu Kamira. 1948
Spoken upon the Maori warriors &
their soldiers of the two World Wars that died.
So, that You shall not be permitted to fade from my
memory, these mountains which have stood in awe of
your existence has recorded your life & has cast
your shadow upon this earth which bear your footsteps.
These rivers that run from them like your wisdom has
quenched my thirst as they ambled their way to the
sea. These rivers have spoken your words and shall
never,… never run dry, for the murmur of the ocean
tides have remembered the sound of your voice.
Your breath are the breezes that blow scent, has
become fragrant upon my breath. They sway the
trees in the motion of your dance and in the rain, that
fall gentle, shall your tears be spilt upon my face. And
though the winds of change may blow your sails beyond
the horizons of time, in the Spirits of our Nature only,
shall you visit the parapit of my dreams from where-ever
great battles have claimed you. And all these things shall
always remain to remind me, of you.
So sleep the long sleep in the dream-place of our
Ancestors Paradise, and there, I shall see you, tomorrow.
So farewell my brother, you food of my heart, and of much,
that I am, Farewell my prized friend.
There are no tears for you, but, for me…