Focus, Arotahi, and breathe. Grow Kahikatea

I think I took it for granted Stone grey and turquoise blue I think I took it as given Water flowing so rich and true I know I took it as routine rising with the pink sunrise and rolling out onto the Plain where the braid winds it's way to the sea. Now everything is brick and concrete Now everything is brick and concrete We keep our distance in the street The nature of our home is changed The nature of our world my never be the same Oh how it makes me miss the river Smooth stone and cold water Vast expanse to the mountains and the sky The wind's rush and the black bill's cry... The way the tern soars As it hunts in the waters Alert and searching Then diving beneath The way the harrier flies great swooping arcs in the sky finding thermal currents to climb And searching with an eagle eye Now everything is brick and concrete Now everything is brick and concrete We keep our distance in the street The nature of our home is changed The nature of our world my never be the same Oh how it makes me miss the river Smooth stone and cold water Vast expanse to the mountains and the sky The wind's rush and the black bill's cry...

A suburban temple Pressed on both sides Mind weighed down The weight of presumed world view A suburban temple Pressed on both sides Perplexed but not despairing Continuing to share that death A suburban temple Material neighbour Prosperity and poverty Can I choose humility A suburban temple A crack in the side Faith that I'm filled That the light gets out (are we the city on the hill or the light under the basket?) A suburban temple A jar of oil Drowning never drowned Tossed upon waves A suburban temple Eyes closed mountain side After the storm passes There the quiet voice A suburban temple Within mountain side After fire Rages There the quiet voice (are we the city on the hill or the light under the basket?) A suburban temple Weighed down with heavy skies Never stop believing You'll see the blazing sun again A suburban temple With prophecies in non green Always holding on You'll see that blazing sun again For that city on the distant hill That glinting yellow speck, For that glinting yellow seed of faith.

If it was up to me to mislead you I would stir up your righteous anger If it was for me to lead you astray I would tell you that you're right If it was for me to mislead you I would compare you to your neighbour If it was for me to lead you astray I would say cross to the other side. I would whisper to you quietly Create for you the picture Of the great and fiery demon Rather than the silent serpent in the grass If it was up to me to mislead you I would call unclean those you fear If it was up to me to lead you astray I would tell you that you're not like them If it was up to me to turn you away I would build a wall of your stances If it was up to me, to mislead you I would stoke division through your opinion I would whisper at your ear A light touch upon your shoulder 'Their need is not real, They should suffer, it's their fault' Oh I would be so familiar with the words you want to hear Anything to keep you from a humble act of love.. If it was up to me, to mislead you I would say innocence is for children If it was up to me to lead you astray I would say patience is for fools If it was up to me to turn you away I would say follow your desire If it was up to me, to mislead you I would say take it now or go without I would send the storm upon you I would swallow you in suffering leaving nothing left to cling to but me I would send waves of uncertainty Dash you on the rocks of life I would blame it on the innocent I would blame it on the giver of life I would question the commandment I would tell you you're the chosen one I would sew doubt on what you know If it was up to me, to mislead you

Mātuku Mātuku kei hea koe? kei te hunahuna koe ki te Raupō e? (Mātuku, where are you? Hiding in the Raupō) Mātuku he whakaroau tō tū kei te hopuhopu koe ngā tuna e (Mātuku, standing so still to snare the Tuna) Mātuku ka haere koe ki hea ina te awa e waipuke? (Mātuku, where will you go when the river is in flood?) Ka huna ō tamariki ki hea ina te kahu e whakatakina e? (Mātuku, where will you hide your children when the Kahu comes searching?)