Page:A New Zealand verse (1906).pdf/159
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The Legend of Papa and Rangi.
123
In the midst, iridescent and glowing,
Full-breasted, bead-eyed,
Bright as the Argus showing,
Not knowing its pride,—
(Low and gentle the call,
Cooing, and cooing:
Wood-pigeons; that is all,
Cooing and wooing.)
Full-breasted, bead-eyed,
Bright as the Argus showing,
Not knowing its pride,—
(Low and gentle the call,
Cooing, and cooing:
Wood-pigeons; that is all,
Cooing and wooing.)
LXXVI.
The Legend of Papa and Rangi.
There was Night at the first—the great Darkness. Then Papa, the Earth ever genial, general Mother,
And our Father, fair Rangi—the Sky—in commixture unbounded confusedly clave to each other;
And between them close cramped lay their children gigantic—all Gods. He the mightiest, eldest, the Moulder
And Maker of Man—whose delight is in heroes—Tumatau—the Courage-inspirer, the Battle-upholder;
Tangaroa, far-foaming, the Sire of the myriads that silvery cleave the cerulean waters;
And the solemn and beauteous Tane, who gathers his stateliest, ever-green, tress-waving daughters
Into forests, the sunny, the songster-bethridden; then Rongo—the peaceful, the kindly provider
Of the roots that with culture are milkiest, pithiest; he too, who flings them in wider and wider
And our Father, fair Rangi—the Sky—in commixture unbounded confusedly clave to each other;
And between them close cramped lay their children gigantic—all Gods. He the mightiest, eldest, the Moulder
And Maker of Man—whose delight is in heroes—Tumatau—the Courage-inspirer, the Battle-upholder;
Tangaroa, far-foaming, the Sire of the myriads that silvery cleave the cerulean waters;
And the solemn and beauteous Tane, who gathers his stateliest, ever-green, tress-waving daughters
Into forests, the sunny, the songster-bethridden; then Rongo—the peaceful, the kindly provider
Of the roots that with culture are milkiest, pithiest; he too, who flings them in wider and wider