A walk in the woods

What a delight it is to walk alone in the woodland, to hear the chirrup of birds as they warn of my passing and the shuffle of rodents not far from my feet but unseen.

Oh to breathe the clean air scented with nature’s balm, first woody and now musky as the secrets of life being lived remind me I am not alone.

The sky is almost lost above me by the swaying treetops as they catch the breeze and I spy a moss covered log that invites me to rest and I sit and close my eyes.

My ears now do the observing as they listen to nature in its fecundity whisper and chatter around me and now I am so still, I hear the chuckle and bubble of a stream.

Almost like a song of contentment it sings to me of a love of life, of a woodland sprite dancing inside a ring of toadstools who skips in and out of the water’s edge unaware, splashing, laughing and loving her life.

My eyes are now open wide, but holding my breath there she is; she is real. She must not hear me as she sings or see me notice her pretty toes and her turned up nose, skipping unharmed through the serrated nettles leaves.

I must breathe, but I don’t want her to leave, so as silently as I can I take a breath and as I do she falters and senses evil nearby and looks for cover then spies me there sitting still.

Trapped she stands her ground and stares back at me. I nod hoping she will not be scared and put my finger to my lips and shake my head as if to say I will not tell of seeing her.

But she too shakes her head slowly and backs off into a group of nettles which sway with her passing and then she looks up and smiles back at me as she disappears with her tiny finger on her lips as well.

I am left alone but the birds are still singing, the trees are still swaying and the stream is still tinkling or is that her as she watches and laughs at me now in secret?

Haeata makes an appearance (No. 99)

A story of Ahu and Ahuahu and their family in a Maori village in Aotearoa during European settlement of New Zealand. (Click on Ahu in the labels bar for previous posts)

The sun was shining again when Ahuahu, Houhia and Tiemi set out to walk up to Gannet Island together to see Hoku and Aotea’s new baby. Ahu had gone up the previous day and Tiemi was clearly uncomfortable that after admitting he wanted to marry Houhia to Ahuahu he was no longer in control of the situation. Ahuahu was obviously observing him and everything he did to determine whether he could permit Houhia to marry him if she wanted to.

Houhia also was nervous, she had almost given up the dream that Tiemi would return to Black Sands to ask her to marry him just as Hinewai had suggested he might do. But she wondered whether if this was the real reason that he was here again. They had not had a chance to speak to each other alone and he had not yet asked to do this.

After they had been walking some time she could not stand the suspense any longer and said to him “Why have you come back to us Tiemi, surely you do not need more plants to collect?”

Tiemi took a deep breath and then said “Do you want me to speak to you in pakeha talk or in your language?”

A tiny smile came across Houhia’s face as she slowly said, “My English is not good.  We would need Hinewai to be with us.”

A look of horror crossed his face and her smile broadened. “We will stay close to Ahuahu, so he knows what we are saying to each other. If you speak too softly he will ask what you have said. So speak up then he knows you are not saying secret things.” When she said that she looked into his eyes and he knew then that she loved him.

“I have asked Ahuahu if you could be my wife.”

Houhia’s heart skipped a beat. Tiemi had somehow done the right thing and asked her father first before he had approached her. So this was why Tiemi was with them so that Ahu should know as well and be able to discuss it with Ahuahu.

“Have you offered my father anything for me?” She asked.

Tiemi bit his lip. “I haven’t got round to that. I don’t really know what I should do. Is it not enough that you will be a wife of a Pakeha, an Englishman?”

“So I am not worth much to you then?” She teased.

Tiemi started to falter, he had not discussed this with anyone and now he was unsure of the protocol. Before he could say anything Houhia continued.

“My father will want to know where we will live. If you want to live here will you be a fisherman too? Or will you just count the trees in the woods while I do all the work? Will you build a whare for me and all our children? Perhaps you will take me away and put me in a pakeha house in a pakeha town away from my family and go and talk to other Maori girls in other parts of Aotearoa while you look at their trees and insects?” She paused then said “No, I do not think Ahuahu would like that.”

Tiemi was almost in tears “But I love you, Houhia.”

“I know you do, Tiemi I can see it in your eyes. But loving is not enough. Over the next few days let us work out how this could happen to see if it is possible. Look, we have nearly reached Gannet Island, this was the quick way. We did not show you this way before.”

Ahuahu rejoined them and said “You hands are empty Tiemi. Have you not learned anything new about our land today?”

Before he had a chance to answer, they had approached the first houses in the village so Houhia ran off ahead to find Ahu and Aotea.

Ahuahu then continued, “She is a very strong young woman isn’t she, Tiemi? Before we meet the others let us have a little talk by ourselves.”

After their talk Ahuahu noticed a woman picking some fish off a village fish drying rack. He went up to her and said, “We have met before some years ago. Are you not Haeata?”

The woman nodded, “Yes, I have seen you before too. You are Tangaroa’s father and head man. I have lived here with my husband since my father was allowed to stay here after the Big River village was destroyed all those years ago.”

Ahuahu thought for a little “Yes, I remember now. Tangaroa told me that your family were allowed to stay here if you married a widower. How is it that I have not seen you here before?”

“We lived at Fern Gully until it was decided that it would be safer if we all lived at Gannet Island in one village. My husband has now died so I am on my own again.” Haeata had noticed Tiemi standing behind Ahuahu. “So you have a pakeha murderer with you. I can kill him for you since his kind ruined my life all those years ago. It would give me great pleasure. My life is finished because of them so I have nothing to lose.”

“Haeata, we are all being slowly squeezed to death by the pakeha. We must finally make peace with them if we are to survive. The killing must stop.”

“You are head man Ahuahu; so you find me a young husband to make my life worth while so that I can have children for our people. But who would want me as a widow now? There were two young men that I could have married before I was traded away by my father; both have been snatched away from me.”

“I will think about this Haeata. Do not despair and don't kill any pakeha...especially this one,” he said with a smile nodding at Tiemi.

With that Ahuahu rejoined Tiemi and they walked on to Aotea’s whare by the beach.

The Waterfall

The scent of gum trees

And a kookaburra’s call

Led us from our park

 

A fast stream spilling

Over stepping stones into

Shimmering dark pools

 

Where blue fairy wrens

Asserted their status but

Not daring to rest

 

From this sylvan scene

Came a warning of thunder

Yet the sky was clear

 

As in a books page

We cross a stone bridge and turn

To see a waterfall

 

Water Jets spewing

Spilling over the cliff face

Uncurbed for eons

 

Voices were silent

As we couldn’t speak to tell

Of our great delight

It was a grey day

I wait for the tram

Look at the threatening clouds

Raincoat in my case

 

I swipe my ticket

Find a seat by the window

Stare at the grey day

 

She got on stop nine

Tall, dark with hair in chignon

Classic high cheeked face

 

She looked at no-one

But she knew I looked at her

I read the paper

 

Then the sky darkened

As did her beautiful face

With her turned up nose

 

We reached the city

The rain poured down in torrents

At Town Hall she rose

 

Then I caught her eyes

And gave her my newspaper

She took it grinning

 

Now smiling in the rain

Unfinished crossword in that

Paper on her head

Broken Promises

Do you think do then

You have legitimate cause

To steal my poor heart?

 

What ego have you then

To play with me when I’m down

To promise nothing?

 

I’ve traveled that road

And suffered damaging lies

No, not any more

Aotahi the bright star (No 98)

A story of Ahu and Ahuahu and their family in a Maori village in Aotearoa during European settlement of New Zealand. (Click on Ahu in the labels bar for previous posts)

Hoku and Aotea’s first child was born early in the morning on a clear night when all the stars were shining. The sea was calm and seemed to sing a gentle lullaby too for the baby as the ripples of water kissed the shore. Mahuika, Hoku’s father’s second wife was with her when the baby was delivered and she exclaimed “This is good for the child even Aotahi the brightest star in the sky has seen her born.”

So the Hoku decided that the baby girl would be named Aotahi too which pleased her husband Aotea as the sound of his name was connected to his first child. Hoku meanwhile just smiled with satisfaction after the effort of bringing her first baby into the world. When they were alone together Hoku whispered to him “Ahu told me she was the one to choose your elder brother Tangaroa’s name, do not be cross with me for choosing ours.”

Aotea looked at her with love “I love that you are a strong woman like my mother Ahu.  Sleep now while I send a message to her and Ahuahu that you have given them another grandchild.” Hoku closed her eyes while Aotea stroked her right arm while her other one was wrapped around the baby who probably wondered why he had been pushed out of his home as he snuffled and breathed the air of his new world.

Ahu received the message and came to Gannet Island from Black Sands later that afternoon but Ahuahu did not accompany her as he had received a visitor. The visitor was Tiemi the botanist from Auckland which was now a major port for the pakeha on the north western tip of their land with access to sea on both the east and the west coasts. There were many pakeha there, building houses and warehouses and there were also pakeha soldiers in uniform.

Ahuahu knew that Houhia was intrigued by this man from overseas. Ahu and Hinewai had told him that she still spoke of him months after he had visited Black Sands.

“Do you want to speak to me alone, or do you want to address the village council, Tiemi?” Here Ahuahu paused then said more pointedly “Or is there someone else you wish to talk to?”

“Perhaps we can talk of many things, Ahuahu. I have been here before so I will tell you that I come in friendship and have nothing hidden from you.”

Ahuahu nodded. “Do not be offended Tiemi, but we will talk in the meeting house. There we will not have children coming to look at you or have their ears to the walls.”

Tiemi smiled and nodded his agreement. They went to the large meeting house, sat down and Ahuahu beckoned to Tiemi to talk.

“My people will soon ask all the chiefs of the land to agree to a peace treaty to stop the fighting and to bring law and order in your land and between all your villages and with us.”

Ahuahu nodded slowly “Yes, I have heard that this may be the case.”

“The government for the whole of the country,” continued Tiemi, “will establish laws for all the people, and ensure the killing stops. We want to live here too, in peace with the Maori’s help.”

“We know you are stronger than us, Tiemi. This is because we are not one people but still fight among ourselves. I am aware the council of chiefs will meet to decide if they will accept this treaty. Even head men like me will be asked for our opinion. What you are telling me is known by most chiefs but regardless of whether we agree or not you will still be here even if we say no.”  Here Ahuahu paused then said to Tiemi, “You must know that all the chiefs of this island know they must make this decision. So why are you really here?”

“I want Houhia to be my wife.” Tiemi said bluntly.

“Have you asked her? Because I am sure she would have told us if you had.”

Tiemi sadly shook his head “I have been away for a few months. I have thought a lot about her in that time. I want her to help me in my work.”

“That is not a good enough reason.”

“I think she wants to be my wife.”

“But then you will take her away; away from her people. She has a great attachment to our land. She loves her family; would you take her away from all that?”

“Wives follow their husbands, Ahuahu. I will ask her.”

“Maori feet stand firmly on this land, they are part of the sea as it nourishes them, and of the air that they breathe, the plants and the trees talk to them and heal them and the water in the stream quenches their thirst. If you take her away you will always find that her spirit remains here in this place.”

“May I speak to her?”

“Yes.”

“But not with Hinewai as well,” Tiemi said.

At this Ahuahu laughed.” Houhia is strong and will make up her own mind. If she says yes she may even want you to have a moko to celebrate the event and for you to become a Maori!”

Ahuahu thought about it for while then said. “My son Aotea and his wife Hoku have just had their first baby. I am going up to Gannet Island to see them. You can come too, we will go tomorrow. We will ask Houhia if she wants to come as well. You can talk then and be like a Maori too for the next few days and do things our way. Remember Tiemi, no decision has been made and do not expect an answer immediately. Houhia will not be swayed by coins or pakeha clothes.” 

They returned to Ahuahu’s whare and found that Hatiti and Houhia and Rauora were all there. Ahuahu noticed Houhia blush and bow her head in embarrassment.

“Tiemi has come to discuss some matters concerning the council of chiefs meeting with me. He will stay a few days. Tiemi can sleep in Hatiti’s old house with Rauora. I will walk up to Gannet Island tomorrow and Tiemi will come with me.” He paused then asked “Did you want to come too Houhia?”

With her eyes still trying to look down she nodded her head wondering why Tiemi had come. Later as she tried to sleep the rain fell outside and she remembered Ahu telling her that had she been a boy when she was born she would have been named Iorangi after the rain which fell so heavily that day. She thought she really must find out more about Tiemi as she gradually fell asleep.

Aotahi - Canopus, a bright star

Moko - Tattoo 

Now that you have left me

I dreamed of you last night as you called to me
It was just like the sad sound of a train’s lonely whistle
Echoing over the vast prairie repeating
Retelling the story of our life together
We were so close but you are gone now
Too far from me to touch but I still see you
As your dress swirls about your body 
And I so crave that thrill of hearing your husky voice
And to touch those nimble fingers as they loosen my tie
And I savor each hug and your every glance is a present
A promise; as our limbs entwine in rapturous love 
And I kiss your nose and your throat and your breasts 
As we nestle together anxious, ardent
Amorous lovers that we once were
The wind is blowing so cold outside
I am cold too inside and I again leave the room 
To look for you once again 
And pace up and down the empty halls 
To hear the beat of my heavy heart 
Which is so full of love but empty of you 
As your own heart will never beat again 
Now that you have left me.