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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Apirana Taylor

In These Winds

In these winds blow many songs

in the call of the Cheyenne, Sioux and Cherokee

in the red shadow of the Commanche moon
across the plains of bleached buffalo bones

in these winds blow many songs

in the *haka*<fnref n="1" /> of the Maori

in *karakia*<fnref n="2" /> to the gods

in these winds blow many songs

calling us together

to dance to the rising sun
our *haka* of the *wairua*<fnref n="3" />

the call of warrior people
*tihei mauriora*<fnref n="4" />.

<footnote n="1">¹ *Haka* (dance).</footnote>

<footnote n="2">² *Karakia* (incantation).</footnote>

<footnote n="3">³ *Wairua* (spirit).</footnote>

<footnote n="4">⁴ *Tihei mauriora* (the first breath of life).</footnote>
## Karanga

When on to the *marael*<fnref n="5" /> I’m called
my heart hears the words, *karanga mai, karanga mai*<fnref n="6" />
taken back I am by the first woman
to the first woman to the first call
to the *manu tiorooro*<fnref n="7" /> singing
to the twelve heavens, *haere mai ra haere mai ra*<fnref n="8" />
thus begins the journey back to the beginning
sailing the *waka*<fnref n="9" /> to the *mauri Maori*<fnref n="10" />
on the *marae atea*<fnref n="11" /> where the dust of *Tumatauenga*<fnref n="12" /> whirls
in the *waiata*<fnref n="13" /> of *korero*<fnref n="14" /> seeking *te ao marama*<fnref n="15" />
opening like a bud
the people weave the light
from threads of memory
stories stitching weaving
everyone together with laughter tears and *korero*.

## Microscope

To write of beauty
and seek
in the pool
to view the tiny
amoeba
with wonder
on its journey.

<footnote n="5">⁵ *Marae* (a courtyard or open space in front of Maori traditional ancestral houses, the centre of daily life and also the place of Maori spiritual sustenance and rituals).</footnote>

<footnote n="6">⁶ *Karanga mai* (to call). In this poem it is a spiritual call called only by women sent out to the twelve heavens.</footnote>

<footnote n="7">⁷ *Manu tiorooro* (a singing bird, this refers to a female composer of songs).</footnote>

<footnote n="8">⁸ *Haere mai ra* (welcome).</footnote>

<footnote n="9">⁹ *Waka* (canoe). Canoes are of sacred significance to Maori</footnote>

<footnote n="10">¹⁰ *Mauri Maori* (Maori spiritual life force).</footnote>

<footnote n="11">¹¹ *Marae atea* (place of light and understanding).</footnote>

<footnote n="12">¹² *Tumatauenga* (God of man, war, and challenge).</footnote>

<footnote n="13">¹³ *Waiata* (song).</footnote>

<footnote n="14">¹⁴ *Korero* (conversation).</footnote>

<footnote n="15">¹⁵ *Te ao marama* (world of knowledge).</footnote>
**Apirana Taylor** is a Maori poet, playwright, novelist, short story writer, actor, painter, story teller and musician from Aotearoa/New Zealand. His Tribes are Ngati Porou, Te Whanau a Apanui, Ngati Ruanui and Te Ati Awa. He is also of Pakeha (European descent). He has published several books of poetry, three books of short stories, a novel and a book of plays. His second novel entitled *Five Strings* will be published in 2016. He has held writers residencies at Massey University and Canterbury University and has taught creative writing. He frequently tours nationally and internationally as poet often accompanying his work with contemporary and traditional Maori music.

haka@paradise.net