Never thought about empowerment
Until my girl and I got married
And then I realized what it meant
Once single and without one care
Such thoughts had never crossed my mind
Now I had great burdens to bear
For now I was responsible
For a wife and quite a lot more
But she was quite irresistable
The rent, the chores, feeding the cat
Lock the doors, help with washing up
Long gone days I thought nought of that
Before a lad playing the game
Now have wife with me all the time
I've grown up and she has my name
Responsibility is great
What strength it's given both of us
She really is the best of mates
Image found at https://pixabay.com/photos/woman-kitchen-man-everyday-life-1979272/
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
