Rākau

Rākau

My ancestor advised his descendants

You were born with two hands to use

Hold your rākau and maintain independence

And use theirs to deflect the abuse 

 

Racism, cultural appropriation...

‘don’t be sensitive, we’re joking around’

Words louder than your inaction

God defend all, except for the Brown

 

Being Māori isn’t something to envy

At least that’s what your media portrays

Yet my survival will be my legacy

Like the land, it will remain for all days

 

I am a rākau, my roots here run deep

But your words make my ancestors weep

This article first appeared in Issue 15, 2018.
Posted 5:38pm Thursday 12th July 2018 by Taylor Terekia.