The Maori's Wool Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDE FFGHIIJJ KKLLLLDE MMLLLLDE DDDDJJDE NNOOLLDEThe Maoris are a mighty race the finest ever known | A |
Before the missionaries came they worshipped wood and stone | A |
They went to war and fought like fiends and when the war was done | B |
They pacified their conquered foes by eating every one | B |
But now a days about the pahs in idleness they lurk | C |
Prepared to smoke or drink or talk or anything but work | C |
The richest tribe in all the North in sheep and horse and cow | D |
Were those who led their simple lives at Rooti iti au | E |
- | |
'Twas down to town at Wellington a noble Maori came | F |
A Rangatira of the best Rerenga was his name | F |
The word Rerenga means a snag but until he was gone | G |
This didn't strike the folk he met it struck them later on | H |
He stalked into the Bank they call the Great Financial Hell | I |
And told the Chief Financial Fiend the tribe had wool to sell | I |
The Bold Bank Manager looked grave the price of wool was high | J |
He said We'll lend you what you need we're not disposed to buy | J |
- | |
You ship the wool to England Chief You'll find it's good advice | K |
And meanwhile you can draw from us the local market price | K |
The Chief he thanked them courteously and said he wished to state | L |
In all the Rooti iti tribe his mana would be freat | L |
But still the tribe were simple folk and did not understand | L |
This strange finance that gave them cash without the wool in hand | L |
So off he started home again with trouble on his brow | D |
To lay the case before the tribe at Rooti iti au | E |
- | |
They held a great korero in the Rooti iti clan | M |
With speeches lasting half a day from every leading man | M |
They called themselves poetic names lost children in a wood | L |
They said the Great Bank Manager was Kapai extra good | L |
And so they sent Rerenga down full powered and well equipped | L |
To draw as much as he could get and let the wool be shipped | L |
And wedged into a Cargo Tank full up from stern to bow | D |
A mighty clip of wool went Home from Rooti iti au | E |
- | |
It was the Bold Bank Manager who drew a heavy cheque | D |
Rerenga cashed it thoughtfully then clasped him round the neck | D |
A hug from him was not at all a thing you'd call a lark | D |
You see he lived on mutton birds and dried remains of shark | D |
But still it showed his gratitude and as he pouched the pelf | J |
I'll haka for you sir he said in honour of yourself | J |
The haka is a striking dance the sort they don't allow | D |
In any place more civilized than Rooti iti au | E |
- | |
He haka'd most effectively then with an airy grace | N |
Rubbed noses with the Manager and vanished into space | N |
But when the wool return came back ah me what sighs and groans | O |
For every bale of Maori wool was loaded up with stones | O |
Yes thumping great New Zealand rocks among the wool they found | L |
On every rock the bank had lent just eighteen pence a pound | L |
And now the Bold Bank Manager with trouble on his brow | D |
Is searching vainly for the chief from Rooti iti au | E |
Banjo Paterson
(1)
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