Page:A New Zealand verse (1906).pdf/171
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The March of Te Rauparaha.
135
Chant the Rangatira’s praise,
Chant it in a thousand lays,
Chant the Rangatira’s fame,
Chant the Rangatira’s name,
Te Rauparaha, Te Rauparaha!
Chant it in a thousand lays,
Chant the Rangatira’s fame,
Chant the Rangatira’s name,
Te Rauparaha, Te Rauparaha!
Sound his praises far and near,
For his spirit still is here
Flying through the gusty shocks,
When the sea-ghosts climb the rocks
Clad in foam shrouds, thick and pale,
Woven by the howling gale
In the ocean’s monster loom!
Warp of green and weft of gloom
Woven into sheets of white
By the wizards of the night;
Chant his name each ocean sprite,
Te Rauparaha, Te Rauparaha!
For his spirit still is here
Flying through the gusty shocks,
When the sea-ghosts climb the rocks
Clad in foam shrouds, thick and pale,
Woven by the howling gale
In the ocean’s monster loom!
Warp of green and weft of gloom
Woven into sheets of white
By the wizards of the night;
Chant his name each ocean sprite,
Te Rauparaha, Te Rauparaha!
*****
“The sea rushed up with plunging shocks,
Kapai! Rauparaha!
To claim the land and beat the rocks,
Kapai! Rauparaha!
The rocks stood firm and broke the waves;
So stood the Ngatitoa braves—
Ngatitoa’s foes are slaves,
Kapai! Rauparaha!
Kapai! Rauparaha!
To claim the land and beat the rocks,
Kapai! Rauparaha!
The rocks stood firm and broke the waves;
So stood the Ngatitoa braves—
Ngatitoa’s foes are slaves,
Kapai! Rauparaha!
“The stars came out to match the sun,
Kapai! Rauparaha!
To claim the crown that he had won,
Kapai! Rauparaha!
The sun shot forth its brightest rays,
And quenched the stars in fiery blaze;
Then chant the Ngatitoa’s praise,
Kapai! Rauparaha!
Kapai! Rauparaha!
To claim the crown that he had won,
Kapai! Rauparaha!
The sun shot forth its brightest rays,
And quenched the stars in fiery blaze;
Then chant the Ngatitoa’s praise,
Kapai! Rauparaha!