As I walked out one morning

As I walked out one morning

Walking through the Kauri trees

The leaves upon the ground

Softened the walk for my feet.

And down by the River

I heard my ancestor call

Under the bridge to the factory:

With a rich use for the poor.

Love is all I have

From Maui a Taranga to me

The river tattoos the earth

While we dine in the current.

‘I’ll love you till the sun

Runs away with the moon

And the seven sisters in heaven

Line dance in endless bloom

The years shall skip like children

Bounding endless steps of life

The flowers of the world

Grow up but then they die.

All the time in the world

Lives in the smallest place

‘O let not size deceive you,

Small things have no waste.

In the pocket of the universe

Where no one sees what’s there

Equality is an absolute

Or nothing would be here.

In laughter and in joy

Life lifts its face to the moon

And time is not forgotten

Its voice is clear as air.

Into all of the deep blue seas

Drifts our appalling fear

Tangaroa breaks us open

And delivers a timely message.

O plunge your head into the sea

Plunge it up to your neck

Open your eyes and look and look

And see what you have not got

The mountain knocks on the sea door

The sun goes straight to bed

And a crack in the earth

Takes us to our bones.

O look into the water

And see your own unrest

Life is holding everything

And everything is dead.

O stand outside your door

As you feed your wishful tears

If love is followed

You are less likely to have fear

It’s early in the morning

The lovers are still asleep

And Time is standing still

While the river roars on.

TraceyTawhiao©November2010

W.H. Auden As I walked out one evening.