was the last to edit Waiata by Peter Hodge
on Mar 10th, 2014 at 12:50 PM
Topic: Waiata by Peter Hodge
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Waiata by Peter Hodge was one of six finalists in the Battle of Gate Pā Poetry Competition (2014). The poem was read aloud at the Prize Giving and Awards Evening held at Elizabeth Café & Larder at 5.30pm on Thursday 6 March 2014.
Waiata
This is the line we drewA gateway between me and youA place to make our stand To stop you invading our land These are the trenches we dugNow all filled with mudA hole to hide our selves From the exploding shells These are the walls you breachedLooking for the victory you seekBut you die in our trapDefeating your attack This is the mercy we showedAfter we gave you a decisive blowThe water we freely gaveFor your life to be saved This is the track we tookA place you did not lookTo escape your netThat was not fully set This is the last battle we foughtGiving you the victory you soughtOur men marched straight at youYour aim was deadly true This is the mass grave you madeTo bury our men that were braveWe mourn their lossAnd count the cost I remember them allI watched them all fallNow in spirit I tend those lostA song of reconciliation and trust
