This poem is primarily inspired by my friend’s love of ngā wai. As children of the Pacific we know that ‘love’ can never encompass the breadth of connection to our taiao. While witnessing the World Heritage Committee attempting to grapple with the crises affecting our reefs alongside celebrating with pure joy the addition of Taputapuātea as a World Heritage Site for the whole Pacific, this poem rang true over and over. It is a reminder that for us, nature and culture will never be split into arbitrary categories. Enjoy.
Tides
Rhythms
Marama
He toto ō ngā wāhine
Harks of shared currents between our bodies
Tinana - Moana
Moana Nui a Kiwa
The greatest sculpture of adoration known to our planet
As Rangi split from Papa his tears wrote of the pain of separation
Covering his beloved in webs that spelt out his affection
Her body, his life
Their torn bond
Tearing
Salt tracks down my cheeks
Salt runs through our veins
Through our fingers as we dive beneath the surface
A surface that travels currents across ancient highways to whānaunga
To Hawaiki
To pathways that the call of the mother whale anchors into the deep
Into a deep knowing
An irresistible recognising of the pull
That awakens the yearning of my body as the tang of that coast air swims up my nose and swells in my lungs
Telling me my tūrangawaewae is somewhere in the crashing call of Tangaroa
A roaring that pours down the crevices of my heart
Knitting it back together with white foam threads
Healing, mending
Transcending
Expansive enough to move me, a mere mortal
Between tapu and noa
No
Love is not red
It is all the myriad colours
Of navy, teal
Aqua, crystal
Pāua, steel
Blue
A massive thank you to French Polynesia and Matua Moana for your mahi in this journey to inscription.
Thank you to Moerangi, Lara, Catherine, Tipene, Hana, Levi, Wiremu, Alaynna and the rest of the Tuia whānau for the journey over the last few years.