To: shibumi
17 posted on
08/30/2012 7:43:13 AM PDT by
Eric in the Ozarks
(I didn't post this. Someone else did.)
To: Eric in the Ozarks
Here is the text, with translation -
Ka mate, ka mate! ka ora! ka ora!
Ka mate! ka mate! ka ora! ka ora!
Tēnei te tangata pūhuruhuru
Nāna nei i tiki mai whakawhiti te rā Ā, upane! ka upane!
Ā, upane, ka upane, whiti te ra!
Tis death! tis death! (or: I may die) Tis life! tis life! (or: I may live)
Tis death! tis death! Tis life! tis life!
This is the hairy man
Who brought the sun and caused it to shine
A step upward, another step upward!
A step upward, another... the Sun shines!
Te Rauparaha composed Ka Mate circa 1820 as a celebration of life over death after his lucky escape from pursuing Ngati Maniapoto and Waikato enemies. He had hidden from them in a food-storage pit, and climbed back into the light to be met by a chief friendly to him - Te Whareangi (the "hairy man").
18 posted on
08/30/2012 8:24:37 AM PDT by
shibumi
(Cover it with gas and set it on fire.)
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