Kuia Wisdom

Waimama Bay, Whiritoa -  photo 2011 

It is not from books that we always find wisdom.

It is the wisdom our elders  give us in their words and stories passed down from many generations.

 For me, the story from my Scottish family – the Spider Story Of Robert the Bruce – “ Try, try, again.” 

The calm words of Kuia and Kaumatua sharing their words for looking after and respecting the environment, gathering flax to weave, planting a tree or fishing for food. Their stories passed on.

waterfall wairere near Matamata  nz  - photo courtesy Chris Ball 2008

                             

                     Kuia Wisdom 

                                        (A Tribute by Anne Stewart Ball 2011 ) 

She sat there, cigarette in hand,

A look of' wisdom, came to her eye.

I moved closer, knees crossed,                                                  

To listen to, her lessons of life.                                                         

For, from the Kuia, came a lesson,

Not found in books.

The things, that are the essence,

 Of one's life outlook.

                                               Kotuku - special in stories passed down 

My child, she says to me,

The first fruits, must always be returned.

Whether it be, from land or sea, To the place, they were reaped.                                                                   

Fish only enough, for your needs,

The rest, you leave in the sea.

My words, you must heed,

Then enough, there will be, for eternity.

The bones and shells, of shellfish too,

Get taken back, to the tide.

Then, there will always be, plenty for me and you,

 And Maru, in peace, will let us abide.

If you are wanting, to make a kit,

Respect the flax plant, you use.

Count the leaves, you need for it,                                                                      

Then, there will be none left over, to abuse.

The leaves, you take at dusk, or dawn.

Not, in the heat of day.

Don't forget, the prayer of thanks. 

 Always, show respect, in the proper way.

The Kuia's voice, grew softer,

 As slowly, her eyes, did close.

 I knew this lesson, was over,                                                           

For she drifted, into quiet repose.

Her words, have been in my mind,

Through, each passing year.

And in the things of nature, I find,

First fruits, put back, much more, do bear.

In Perthshire Scotland - where some of  my Scottish kin came from to NZ ,flax was grown to weave into linen. This flax, was grown near Dunning and Strathearn. 

The maori name for flax is harakeke. Twisted plaited and woven, and still  today in 2021, harakeke has many uses - fishing nets, kete

( baskets), mats, cords.