Poets Square: When Ihu Karaiti Walked The Whenua / A.J. Hendry
When Ihu Karaiti walked the whenua
He saw the bondage of tangata whenua
The scars so deep, through which trauma seeped, he saw their pain
And said
Come follow me
My love it heals, it too runs deep
Come be free
My people
He weeped
When Ihu Karaiti walked the whenua
He saw past the hate
Of the one named Oppresser
Saw past the mask
They chose to wear
Beneath
He saw
Oppression held
A people blinded
By their own greed
Killing both the whenua
And their own seed
Cutting themselves
From which they belong
In bondage to
the Lord of wrong
To them
he called
Come follow me
My love is free
As you will be
When Ihu Karaiti walked the whenua
He sang of Justice
Of healing come
He sang a waiata of hope for old and young
He sang a song to call us near
Dear ones, lay down your prejudice and fear
When Ihu Karaiti walked the whenua
He sung, oh he sung, we will be free
A.J. Hendry