An Ode to Artists

FEATURE | POEM | PUORO O AOTEAROA / LOCAL MUSIC

Written by Hirimaia Eketone (they/them) | @hiri_music | Te Ao Māori Editor

Breaking the glass of intrepid explorers

Walking on paths set in concrete puddles

Whenua dying with insider arson

Placing pieces atop our shaky roundtable

Streets full of anarchy

Whispers of succession 

Bias of a woman,

Purer man,

Rich musician

Sound of silence is no longer kept,

Songs revived as war-chant pop hits

Amidst genocide (who gives a shit?)

No genuine tune will hand you rights

As we move collectively back in time

Question reality children,

Find fault in our stars and our people.

Kick those who can’t walk,

Praise those who can

Stay silent in places of korero.

(If you read the subtext, find your niche

Strive to free us from this world so bleak

Carve colour back into the sky so grey

Perhaps we’ll live another day?)