Te Vaka

te lomatua te ahiahiga
fakalili ma fakaita
mitimiti au i tou fakaaliga
manakoga te taumafaiga

e tumutumu na vaka
na vaka o tupuga
te fiafia te kata

tofa tofa e taku pele
kua maua te filemu
tofa tofa e taku pele
mavae ki taua

manatua tou fakatonuga
takitaki lelei ke manumalo
te taumafaiga
lomatua ma te kaiga
kua malamalama nei au
i tou manakoga

e fakamoemoe
e maua nei e koe
lotomalu ma te filemu
fakatofa e lahi te alofa
maea anamua kae agai ki mua

an old woman visiting
teases me to anger
held steady locked in a dream
to pass on a task

with over-filled canoes
canoes carrying ancestors
looking weary looking satisfied
a long journey’s end giving
relief and freedom to return

farewell my loved ones with
your new-found peace
farewell my loved ones
this is where we part ways

I recall the conditions
to lead well and succeed
an old woman with family
all you ask
is to be understood

I hope you have found
all that you wished for
all that is calm and peaceful
farewell to you with love
the past ends here for you
where my future begins