Why Nanny, Why ?


by Pauline Tangiora


published in Watch her Colours Fly: Poetry about Peace and Freedom


Strange it seems my moko doesn’t understand
rules are important for boundaries.
'Up here on my lap moko let us
Korero.’

‘Why Nanny, why?’ Looking at my moko, an earnestness
in her strong voice, ‘Why must you have rules?’

One thinks hard — is it important to have rules?
Can we live in harmony
without rules?

Ah! Maybe one needs to change with time, it would
be easier.
My hands stroke her soft
hair. Innocence gives forth
this trusting bundle
to ask ‘Why Nanny,
why?’

Looking over her golden head across the glittering sea, calm
and beautiful — a deep blue.
'Yes moko, just like the sea which has to move its tides
so we can collect Kaimoana at certain times.
Rules give harmony to our lives
so we live with minimum conflicts.

Working in harmony with others, ae moko, it’s nature’s
act of saying,
Let us make music all together
if not in reality — then make it your dream.’