The Poem - Finding Grace

Finding Grace | Kimihia a Grace

By Emma Hinton, translation Lois McIver

Wake to adventure calling.            

Oho ake ki te karanga mātātoa.

Feet squish. Stumble, slip, trip. 

Waewae pākorakora. Tārutu, paheke, tapape.

Search under, over and in between. Fingers find and tuck in pockets.

Rapua ki raro, ki runga, ki waenga. Matimati kimikimi, ka kuhu pūkoro.

Explore in the shadow and the bright. Play in the green and the wet.

Torotoro i te pō, torotoro i te ao. Korikori i te mauti me te haumākū.

Catch the light and let it go.

Hopua te tūrama, ka tukua ai kia rere.

Climb up and up, balance on the mountain. Treasure shared, enough for all.

Piki ake, kake ake, ka tū tika i runga i te maunga.

He taonga ka tohaina, ka nui mā te katoa.

The wind takes a breath and blows and blows. Soar on its wings.

Ka ngongo te hau, ka puhipuhi, ka puhipuhi. Rere ana i runga i ōna parirau.

Whispers shimmer in the leaves. Listen. Feel.

He kōmuhu ka tīkorikori i ngā rau. Whakarongo. E rongo.

Find a lost treasure. Make a place of rest and return.

Kimihia he kurapae. Mahia he wāhi okioki, he wāhi hokihoki.

Night creeps closer. Roots dig deep and branches hold the sky.

Ka whakatata mai te pō. Ngoto hōhonu ngā paiaka, toko rangi ngā peka.

Grace waits with the tree. They call her home.

Whanga tahi ana a Grace me te rākau. He karanga nā te kāinga kia hoki.

Grace returns…

Ka hoki a Grace… 

Ready to be found.

Kua rite kia kitea nei ia.