Otorohanga
At the white pine at Otorohanga 200 years ago, a Nga Puhi war party armed with muskets was destroyed. They had that day defeated Ngati Maniapoto Warriors, who had however instructed their women to distract the victors, until they regrouped and struck back. Otorohanga lies right at the aukati or King Country border. It has long been a place for holding back, for detainment.
Otorohanga
don’t doubt
the redoubt
you will learn
at Otorohanga
by the white pine
or kahikatea
how far south
you may go -
all you
war parties
British armies
railroaders
shepherd kings
cow cockies
grog-runners
Ernst and Young
PwC
here it is
standing in the stars
on the rough domain
the tree hedged
in constellation
because
Ngati Maniapoto women
once seduced
musket-wielding victors
from the north
and withdrew
as their men rose
from the river
before dawn
Upas tree
sown in sperm blood
and brain
wrath-stock and anger-stem
trunk and branch balance
at the white pine
of judgement -
everyone will know victory
each will taste defeat
some must know oblivion
Oxford
14 August 2015