New Zealand Gallery
Aotearoa
Aotearoa
land of the long white cloud
seen first by the explorer Kupe
in his mythical canoe.
Aotearoa
riveting history of water and stone,
volcano, earthquake, and flood;
drama of deep lakes and craggy peaks,
twisted fiords and glistening rivers
that race to feed wild hungry oceans.
Aotearoa
poem of darkness and light retold
in the codices of unfathomable caverns
amid constellations of glowworms,
bioluminescent subterranean artists
just angling for a meal.
Aotearoa
island mountain rainforest song
sung first by great tribes of birds -
moa, mohua, kiwi, takahe-
then humans came and
now the bird-music wanes
one song at a time.
Aotearoa
prayer of the rimu, rata,
kamahi, and tawhai
prayer of totara, venerable chief
among South Island trees.
Aotearoa
May your waters run clear!
Aotearoa
May your forests stand tall!
Aotearoa
May your birdsong be deafening!
From "Moves Between Worlds"
(c) Eric Walter 2012
