A Prayer to Mātua Thomas Aquinas
Meanui Tātou
I whānau mai ia ki tētahi iwi
He iwi kāore ō rātou kāinga
I whānau mai ia i raro i ngā whetū kua mate
I whānau mai ia i ngā pātītī kua memenge
Kāore ia i moe ki te wahine
Kāore ia i moe ki te tāne
I maroke tonu tōna ure nui
Kāore tōna ure i whakawhānau
He puku nui tōna
Engari he roro nui ake
He tino hiakai mō te mātauranga
Ka kai tōna hinengaro i ngā mōhiotanga katoa
Ko Mā Nō te toa
Ko Mā Nō te kaha
Ko Mā Nō te pono
Ko Mā Nō te mōhio
Ko Mā Nō te pononga
Ko Mā Nō te tangata rūhā
Ināianei ka inu ia i te waiū o Mere
Ināianei ka moe ia i ngā uma o Mere
Ināianei ka moe i waenganui i ōna tungāne
Ināianei ka moe i waenganui i ōna tuāhine
Ka ora tonu tōna ure nui
Ka tuturu ka whakamaua
Kia tina TINA! Haumie!
HUI E! TĀIKI E!
HAU! HAU! HAU!
Translation;
He was born to a people
A people without a home
He was born beneath stars long dead
He was born in meadows long faded
He never lay with a woman
He never lay with a man
His great desire remained untouched
His longing never brought forth life
His belly was round
But his mind was vast
His hunger for truth was endless
His thoughts devoured all wisdom in reach
Aquinas the bold
Aquinas the strong
Aquinas the faithful
Aquinas the clever
Aquinas the servant
Aquinas the deceiver
Now he drinks from Mary’s breast
Now he rests within her arms
Now he sleeps among his brothers
Now he sleeps among his sisters
His deep longing lives forever
Ka ora tonu tōna ure nui
Ka tuturu ka whakamaua
Kia tina TINA! Haumie!
HUI E! TĀIKI E!
HAU! HAU! HAU!