Days of isolation

Even in these days of isolation
There is still so much to find in life
For writing is my own occupation
For I am like a kid with a knife

Okay I've been writing many years
Telling tales from imagination
Or writing my history with some tears
Funny at school 'twas not my ambition

But when you start, then the words pour forth
Your memory then digs you in the ribs
For then the world's your oyster henceforth
Whether you tell it true or lots of fibs

How keen you are to read authors work
As writers learn much from each other
As inspiration for you brains murk
Then poems flow without any bother

Image found at www.pixabay.com

Encounter in the reeds

                                                   Bel looking back

Her skin was like alabaster and her eyes pale as the early morning and she was one of the people from across the river. He knew he shouldn't look at her for she came from the high mountains where the altitude made breathing difficult. They spoke a different language and the children were warned not to speak to them for that would be disaster as “They are not like us” his parents had warned, “Talk to them and there will be chaos.”

He looked through the reeds and saw her with her family gathering clay, probably to make pots for there was none in the hills. Although he kept still, the fair people were still alert and watched out for an attack. Like wild animals one of them was always scanning the area, so he moved not one muscle. He scarcely breathed as the girl came closer to him as in admiration she plucked the flowers that grew there. Then she turned and stumbled into his hiding place. He could see her expression change from being alert to one of fear.

He put his finger to his lips to signal silence as his face graphically reflected his own fear. He glanced first at her face then down to her feet that squished in the moist mud where they stood. Finally she uttered her word for “Mine” as she clutched the flowers close to her breast. He nodded in agreement and smiled at her pretty face. As he did this she visible relaxed and stooped down to where he hid. He pulled a chunk of bread from his satchel and offered it to her. Doubtful at first she finally took it from him and nibbled at it looking all the while at him in case he posed a threat.

Finally he spoke; “Gor” he said, pointing to himself. She thought for a moment and then said “Bel” to tell him her name. Gor held his hands out to her with his palms uppermost indicating there was no guile him. Instead of doing the same Bel placed both her hands in his and nodded. Then almost in an instant she changed; she had heard her people calling her name. She replied that she was there in the rushes, “I am coming, I am coming”.

Sadly Gor nodded and reluctantly let go of her hands. He then reached up and touched her pale face as she was so beautiful and he uttered a one word question “Why?” She lowered her eyes, then rose up, turning to rejoin her family.

Gor watched her go and as she pushed through the reeds his thoughts urged her to look back at him. The force of his love was so great that just as he gave up hope of her responding, she did so, turned and smiled at him.
  
                                           Where did I find love?
                                       I found it in the marshlands
                                          When she smiled at me  
                 

Image found at www.luria-xxii.deviantart.com

The girl in the reeds

Her skin was like alabaster
Eyes pale as an early morning
She was from across the river

He knew he shouldn't look at her
She came from the high mountains
There altitude made breathing difficult.

They spoke a different language
They were warned not to speak
For they are not like us

His parents had warned him
Talk to them and there will be chaos
But she was so beautiful

As he looked through the reeds
He saw her with her family gathering clay
To make pots as there was none in the hills

Although he kept still and hidden
They were still alert watching
Like wild animals sniffing the air

So he moved not one muscle
Scarcely breathing, the girl came close
Plucking the flowers that grew there

Then she turned and stumbled upon him
Her expression changed from alert
To that of an overwhelming fear

He put his finger to his lips
Signaling, pleading silence from her
Graphically reflected his own fear

He glanced first at her face then down
Her feet squishing in the plastic mud
Where she stood staring at him

Finally she uttered her word for “Mine”
She clutched the flowers to her breast
Nodding in agreement he smiled at her

With this she visible relaxed
And stooped down to where he hid
Staring wonderingly at him

He offered a hunk of bread from his satchel
Doubtfully she took it from him
Nibbled it, looking at him all the while

“Gor” he said pointing to himself
Silent for a moment she then said “Bel”
“Bel’ he nodded approvingly

He held his hands open, palms up
Instead of doing the same
Bel nodded and placed her hands in his

Then almost in an instant she changed
She had heard her people calling
She cried out in reply “I am coming”

Sadly Gor nodded in despair
Reached up and touched her pale face 
As she was so beautiful

He uttered a one word question “Why?”
She lowered her eyes, then rose up
Returning to rejoin her family

She pushed back through the reeds
Watching, Gor willed her to turn around
To look back at him again

The force of his love was so great
That just as he was giving up hope
She did so and smiled for him.

Image from luria-xxii.deviantart.com

Moana's Discovery (No 52)

The continuing story of Ahu and Ahuahu her husband in a Maori village in Aotearoa before European settlement of New Zealand. (Missed an episode? Click on Ahu in the labels bar for previous posts.)

One day Moana approached Ahu and Hatiti who were discussing babies and what they would call theirs when they were born. Moana listened to them quietly for a little while and when there was a lull in the talk she blurted out “Why do neither you nor Hatiti have a moko on your chin when so many other wives do?”

Ahu looked at Moana and sensing there was more to it than a simple question responded “Do you ask because you would like one yourself and feel that a future wife of a chief’s son should have one?”

Moana just nodded in reply.

“About a  year after I had Tangaroa I thought that I might have one done and both Hoata and I discussed it then,” Ahu said, “but when I found out that Hoata was to have one done because Kamaka, wanted her to look more like his first wife, Hatiti’s mother, it did not seem so important. I discussed it with Ahuahu and he said that in the islands where he came from not many women had a moko on their chin so that I could decide for myself. However he did say he would rather my lips were not coloured. What do you think Hatiti?”

“When Horowai was born,” Hatiti began, “I talked with Kaihutu my first husband about having a moko but as he died so soon afterwards it did not seem appropriate anymore. Now that I live with Ahu and Ahuahu I know the moko is not an important symbol for this family. She then said shyly “My lips are full enough without having a dye pricked into them to make them look fuller. Perhaps Ahu and I will discuss this again with Ahuahu, but have you not noticed his face does not have a tattoo either but that his legs do.”

Then Ahu nodded then asked “Does Paikea want you to have a moko, Moana?”

Moana agreed, “His mother and his aunts have them so he thought that I should have one too.”

“Moana, what is it that you think of when you see me or Ahuahu? What is special about Hatiti or even your mother Hauku?”

Moana glanced back at Ahu and shook her head. “I do not know Ahu.”

“Alright then” continued Ahu, “What is special about Ahuahu?”

Moana shook her head again “I still do not know, Ahu.”

“We are all different. We behave differently, we don’t do the same things as others, we love more intensely, we are strong and when we are together we are very strong indeed. Ahuahu came from over the ocean he was not born in Aotearoa but came here as a child.”

“Did you know Ahuahu saved many people from the village here when the Volcano erupted; he made a decision to take us to higher ground so we were not affected by the tidal wave that destroyed the village. Sadly Hatiti had returned here with her father too soon and was nearly killed but Ahuahu saved her when we all thought she had died and were already mourning for her. She loved Ahuahu from that day on and when she did marry but lost her husband shortly after Horowai was born I brought her back to live with us. I chose Hatiti for Ahuahu as it was better that we should all love each other. Ahuahu saved her life and deep inside knew that meant he was responsible for her. If you want to be a strong woman you must make decisions for yourself. You showed that strength by coming to Black Sands but now that you are here you must stay strong and make up your own mind, and not agree to what others say you should do, but decide for yourself.”

“Why is my mother Hauku different, Ahu?”

“She saved her family when the fighting occurred at Gannet Island and your father was killed. She did not stay but fled to her own Village where the Kakas call and chose to help Torangi a widower there who now looks after her. You had told her that you would search for Ahuahu and she trusted you to do that. She was strong and thought that you were too. Who knows what would have happened to you both had she not been strong.”

Moana nodded “You mean that my love for Paikea must make me stronger not weaker.”

“Yes, that is right Moana. You must discover that you are no less of a woman when you marry. You need to be strong, very strong. Why do you think that you are allowed to see Paikea? It is because his father thinks you are strong and worthy, do not let him down.”

With that Moana smiled and said, “Yes, I will make up my own mind and be strong, this is a wonderful discovery. I think I will go down to the beach  to see if Ahuahu has returned.”

When Ahu and Hatiti were alone with the little ones Hatiti said “you have not mentioned Moana’s mother Hauku’s new husband before or said that his name was Torangi. Is that Hinewai’s husband?”

“Hinewai left him Hatiti, I did not want to hurt you by telling you that they are not together anymore. I told Ahuahu but he said that Kamaka your father already had told him that this would happen. I am sorry his name slipped out.”

Hatiti then said “When you said we were all strong I did not put myself with you and Ahuahu. But you are right Ahu I am strong and I love fiercely, especially you and Ahuahu. Now that I know that Hinewai has left him, I feel it is better for them both. Would you have told me eventually?”

“Yes, once Kamaka mentioned Hinewai again, Ahuahu was going to tell him that he had heard Torangi was by himself now. If you like, talk to Ahuahu so he knows we have discussed it.”

“No, Ahu we can talk about it openly, you and Ahuahu are part of me now and I am so content. I just hope that Hinewai is safe but I am still frightened for her.”

“You are strong Hatiti, you made it clear you loved Ahuahu, you were brave enough to tell me so all those years ago. And when the gods took your husband I knew then that you belonged with us and we would not argue.”

Hatiti then reached out and gently traced her fingers on Ahu’s hand and they spoke no more.

Moko - Tattoo