“Hokihoki Tonu Mai.”

A love song set to a pretty, plaintive air, which is chanted and crooned from one end of New Zealand to the other is the following; it is often used as a poi-chant and as a lullaby.

Hokihoki tonu mai te wairua o te tau
Ki te awhi-Reinga ki tenei kiri—ē!
I tawhiti te aroha e pai ana e te tau.
Te paanga ki te uma mamae ana, e te tau!
He moenga hurihuri te moenga i wharepuni,
Huri atu, huri mai, ko au anake, e te tau.
He pikinga tutonu te pikinga Hukarere;
Na te aroha ka eke ki runga—ē!
Aikiha ma e mau mai to uma,
Maku i here ka tino pai rawa—ē!
Ka pinea koe e au ki te pine o te aroha,
Ki te pine e kore nei e waikura—ē!

(Translation)
Oft doth the spirit of my love
Return to me
To clasp in Reinga-land^*

This form of mine
Ere yet love came to me
My heart roved careless, pang-free;
Now a sweet pain lies ever in
My bosom, O my love!

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Restless my couch
Within the Wharepuni
I this way, that way, turn
I lonely lie,
My love!

Far, far above me rise
The heights of Hukarere
Yet will the power of love
Uplift me there,
For there art thou!

Ah! I see again the kerchief white
Upon thy breast
'Twas I who bound it there
To make thee look so fine.
I'll pin thee to me
With the pin of love, the pin
That never rusts!