In February 2017 my partner and I spent a magical week in Tahiti. Visiting Taputapuatea and Raiatea was a real highlight and special moment in time for me. Catching up with a friend who is a leading Tahitian tatau specialist was enlightening and fun too, and I learned a lot! I hope to spend more time exploring French Polynesia in future.
Here's a poem that I wrote when I was in Tahiti, inspired by what I saw, felt, learned and experienced there.
Niu life
The foundation
Lay it right
And your life will flourish
This land does nourish
Everything it touches
Coconut bread
Coconut milk
Coconut flesh
Coconut candy floss
Nature is the boss
Magical plants
Fish in the spring
I can hear the tūpuna sing
Spring water
In it, I have a shower
This land has power
Burn the fire all day long
In paradise
Oh it's so nice
I can't complain
I don't complain
You shouldn't complain either
Tama tū tama ora
Work and sweat in the heat of the day
This way of life is a good way
Go to bed when the sun goes down
Wake up with the sunrise
And listen to the birds cries
We have everything we need here
This rangatira told me
Not ariki
But rangatira
With dirt on his hands and machete
We need very little money
The fenua provides all the food you need
And a house for you and your family
What more could you want?
When you're living in paradise
Nature people
Nature man
He has a GOOD plan
To live off the land
He's planting his trees
Pulling the weeds
And saving his fees
From the tatau of the tūpuna he sees
I see them too
Everything we need is right here
In this land
In these trees
Rebel against the system
Save your money so you can be independent
And free
Don't be greedy
Time goes so slow
No stress
Taro ice-cream and banana pie
How many different varieties of bananas?
And mangoes?
What day is it?
How long have we been here?
Doesn't matter
All that matters is what kind of food shall we gather
And prepare together
With these grateful hands
For our next meal?
I can climb this maunga like my tūpuna before me
If they can do it, so can I
And so we did
'Kaitiakitanga' by Taryn Beri. Wai (water) and manu (bird) designs feature in this artwork about the importance of caring for our natural environment. We must all be kaitiaki (guardians) of the earth, water and entire natural world if it is to continue to support life as we know it. The manu (bird) designs in this artwork can also symbolically represent significant kaitiaki (guardians) for the owner/viewer of the work. Click on the image to buy your own 'Kaitiakitanga' canvas.