page 37

Sutherland Falls

Whakarongo! In the forest
With its moss and lichen clinging,
Hear the bell-birds' liquid music
Through the branches clearly winging.
Te waha o manu-rau,
Manu, anahera-hau.
Tane! From your leafy eyrie
In the canyon's deep incision
Can you see, across the chasm,
This wild, awe-inspiring vision?
Wahi-tapu o te wai,
Koto koto o te tai.
Rere! As a nymph of vapour,
Graceful, with a swirl enthralling,
Through a narrow, spear-like crevice
Swiftly in a torrent falling.
Ka horo, Ko tai Ko rea,
Wawara-wai, ma rawea.
Waireka! The Water dancing
From the spraying falls, and seeping
Through the tiny caves below them,
Where the mosses lie a-sleeping.
Wahi-pari, Matatua,
Te mara o te Atua.
Taiha! A spear of water!
Flooded volumes downwards pouring,
Leaping out across the canyon
With a thousand terrors roaring.
Raua e takahia,
Ka kiro te haere pea.
Waiata! The song of beauty,
Of a water-wraith alluring,
Sweeping downward, mist-encompassed,
Coldly, endlessly enduring.
E pai ana; Kua u;
Kua mutu te Kopu.
—F. Alexa Stevens.
“Whakarongo—hearken.
Te waha o manu-rau—place of many birds.
Anahera-hau—wind angels.
Tane—tree god.
Wahi-tapu o te wai—holy place of the waters.
Koto Koto o te tai—the waters roll.
Rere—waterfall.
Ka horo—the speedy fall.
Ko tai Ko rea—like the fullness of the tide.
Wawara-wai—the noise of the waters.
Ma rawea—they fall.
Waireka—sweet water.
Wahi-pari—place of cliffs.
Matatua—Face-of-God.
Te mara o te Atua—the garden of the gods.
Taiaha—a spear.
Raua e takahia—do not go there.
Ka Kiro ta haere pea—the place is dangerous.
Waiata—song.
Epai ana—it is well. Kua u—standing forever.
Kua mutu te Kupu—the tole is ended.

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