Festival
Nukuhiva, Marquesas Islands, 1675


[For Greg Dening]

Haka'iki and tau'a, chief and warrior priest
You of so much uncollected fruit, so many conquests
We honor the songs of your ancestors, your mana
The atua gods before you, the atua to follow

We honor atua with these heana Teii
Enemy men taken from Teii for sacrifice this day
Take them to the me'ae, crush them twice
Kill them and kill them again
Hang them like fish on hooks
                They will invigorate, honor us
                Replenish and restore, honor us

Spirits of the sky, rock, sea, wind, and tree
Sky, rock, sea, wind, and tree
                Spirits of the sky, rock, sea, wind, and tree
                Sky, rock, sea, wind, and tree

                Hear us, we sing to you, dance this story
                Hear us, we sing to you, dance this story

Spirits of te vaka canoe, Tua to Ha breadfruit wind
Te vaka, Tua to Ha i Mataiki, Ua, Ko-mui

Spirits of ehi coconuts, meika plantains, tao taro, ika fish
Ehi, meika, tao, ika, e ika

Spirits of matta puovu lean-faced old men
Huepo black-faced men, tattooed warriors
Matta puovu, huepo

Spirits of Enata the men, Te Henua the land
Enata, Te Henua
                Spirits of Enata the men, Te Henua the land
                Enata, Te Henua

                Hear us, we sing to you, dance this story
                Hear us, we sing to you, dance this story