Hineteiwaiwa

Hineteiwaiwa

there’s an affinity between the weaver

and the plants that she gathers

harakeke, pīngao, kiekie

the flax scraped with a shell

then washed and dried

the muka prepared on her thigh

the weaver works downward

*

the designs of women are as tangled

and purposeful as webs

under, over

holding hands in place

she pulls at the threads

two up, two down

*

we women go about our women’s activities 

reach out to Hineteiwaiwa

to give us power

she prays over us

sits like a mountain

beneath the cycles of the moon

*

with her face lit up above us

she cradles mother and child

we trace our lineage back 

as far as it goes

it ends with her

*

under, over

two up, two down

with your small flax

weave us into life

we summon you

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