Waiata Poi - 1908 - Maori Poi Song

James Pitt-Payne, London and Ian Cousins, Opera Australia - 17 Jan 2002

Mara, Maori maiden brown,
Famed for poi play;
Far on winds her name is blown,
Dusky, lithesome fay.

Kiarite, kiarite,
Poi porotiti tapara patua, Hei! Ha! Hei!
Hei! Ha! Hei! Ha! Hei! Hei! Ha!
Watch her supple wrist,
And the poi twirl and twist;
Hear the gentle tapping
'Gainst the raupo wrapping
Of this fascinating thing,
Tiny ball on end of string,
Of this fascinating thing,
Tiny ball on end of string,
Tiny ball,
Tiny ball.
Hei! Hei! Hei! Ha!

Mark the sound her piupiu makes
As her body moves;
That it is enchanted flax
Such sweet music proves.

Kiarite, kiarite,
Poi porotiti tapara patua, Hei! Ha! Hei!
Hei! Ha! Hei! Ha! Hei! Hei! Ha!
Watch her supple wrist,
And the poi twirl and twist;
Hear the gentle tapping
'Gainst the raupo wrapping
Of this fascinating thing,
Tiny ball on end of string,
Of this fascinating thing,
Tiny ball on end of string,
Tiny ball,
Tiny ball.
Hei! Hei! Hei! Ha!

Soft karaoke
Words
treble clef 1
treble clef 2
lyric line
bass
Lyric Line
*
Waiata Poi 1908
by Alfred Hill
copyright MCMVIII by Chappell and Co. Ltd.
sequence by Dr. Pitt-Payne in London UK
and Ian Cousins, Opera Australia
completed Thursday 17 Jan 2002 at 07.34
in association with Doug Grierson
*