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poettothecars
Senior Member
since 2006-02-10
Posts 1093
New Zealand

0 posted 2006-05-22 04:55 AM



     

4068
A Kiwi ‘Haere mai’
*(Welcome)
04 July 2005


Buttercups don’t grow in Hawaii
yellow roses do not grow in Texas
Or was it that being a male
was like posting in kind to sexist

This majesty of kingdom
princess to that of food
To know of her—in search
and run in waves to include

Shipping in computation - weeks away
in hope return - For his happening of her
towards those future - moments teacher learn

Surfing and climbing
seeing snow and water to day
More over to simply taken - in step
to forward a "kiwi gid’day"


In the Maori Language, ethnic to New Zealand in origin, there are similarities to other Polynesian languages of the South Pacific region in words expressed— while being unique to the land of New Zealand, Aotearoa [Land of the Long White Cloud]. Where in Hawaiian the word "Aloha" means ‘Hi’ or ‘Hello’ and in Maori the equivalent greeting is ‘kia ora’ - and the Maori word *‘Haere mai’ [welcome] was also used by way of greeting another, or a group. While in commonality of New Zealand/Australia sayings—a greeting was conducted through using the word— Gid’day [good day—or more commonly accepted to replace the words ‘hello’ or ‘hi’ - as a formal greeting].

The word ‘kiwi’ was also as much New Zealand—The Kiwi (Apteryx australis), a flightless bird unique to New Zealand. Said to have lived there for over 70 million years, a major national symbol of the country. New Zealand people being often referred to as "Kiwis" in response to this national pride [and in addition the name related to the kiwifruit - an egg shaped fruit with a hairy outer skin and green centre of fruity flesh - formally known as a Chinese Gooseberry. The kiwi birds are around 31 cm [12 inches] long, and have a sensitive beak [ a unique feature being the nostrils towards the end of the bill ]. They nest in holes in dense vegetation and hunt for grubs at night.


While the facts relating to there being a yellow rose in botanical form has opened a wave of naturalized stands of the hybrid rose, Harison's Yellow , that can be found as far west in the USA as New Mexico and California. But it is seldom seen naturalized in Texas.


© 2006 Christopher W Herbert (a New Zealand Poet)

a poet who cares



© Copyright 2006 Christopher W Herbert - All Rights Reserved
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