Aria

A first book of poetry and a Māori coming-of-age story.

Where is my tongue?
On display, a trophy of war.
Where is my tikanga?
Kept in the basement.
Where is my mana?
Locked in the museum.
And where are my whānau?
Scattered like dandelion seeds,
from the grating city,
to the harnessed horizon.

Drawing moko kauae on Barbies. Reading Ranginui Walker in rāhui. Spitting on the statue of Captain Cook. Āria is a first collection of poems by Jessica Hinerangi in which the author reconnects with her tūpuna and with te ao Māori.

He kākano ahau i ruia mai i Rangiātea
ā, ka tipu tonu.
Tihei, mauri ora!