Spring’s Gift
Mi
Mi
I envy the sand that met his feet
Ka pūhaehae ahau ki te onepū
I’m jealous of honey he tasted sweet
Ka pūhaehae ahau ki te mīere
Of birds that hovered above his head
Ki ngā manu i whakapahū
Of spiders who spun their sacred web
Ki ngā pūngāwerewere
To save him from his enemies
Hei tiaki i a ia
I envy clouds formed from the seas
Ka pūhaehae ahau ki ngā kapua
That gave him cover from the heat
I whakamarumaru i a ia
Of a sun whose light could not compete
O te rā e kore nei tōna mārama
With his, whose face did shine so bright
Ki tōna kanohi
That all was clear in blinding night
Kia mārama ai te katoa
I envy sightless trees that gazed
Ka pūhaehae ahau ki ngā rākau kāpo
Upon his form completely dazed
Ki tōna hanga
Not knowing if the sun had risen
Kāore i mōhio mēnā
But felt themselves in unison
Engari i rongo rātou
With those who prayed, and fasted too
Me te hunga i inoi
Simply because he told them to
Nā tana kōrero noa
With truth and kindness, charity
Ma te pono, te atawhai
From God who gave such clarity
Mai i te Atua
His mercy comes in one He sent
Ka puta Tōna aroha
To mold our hearts more heaven bent
Hei tārai i ō tātou ngākau
I envy all there at his side
Ka pūhaehae ahau ki te hunga
Who watched the turning of the tide
I mātakitaki i te
As truth prevailed and falsehood fled
I te tūnga o te pono
And hope restored life to the dead
A ka whakaora anō te tūmanako
Men and Women through him found grace
I kitea e te tāne me te wahine
To seek together God’s noble face
Hei ruruku tahi i
I envy the cup that gave him drink
Ka pūhaehae ahau ki te ipu
His thoughts that helped us all to think
Ki ōna whakaaro
To be one thought that passed his mind
Kia tū hei whakaaro kotahi
Inspiring him to act so kind
I whakaohooho i a ia
For me this world is not one jot
Ki ahau, kāore tēnei ao
If I could simply be a thought
Mēnā ka taea noatia
From him to God throughout the ages
Mai i a ia ki te Atua
As revelation came in stages
I te putanga mai o te kupu
I pity all who think it odd
Ka aroha ahau ki te hunga
To hear him say there is one God
Te rongo i a ia e kī ana
Or he was sent by God to men
He mea tono rānei ia
To hone their spirits’ acumen
Hei whakakoia i te
It’s pride that blinds us from the sight
Ko te whakapehapeha
That helps good men to see his light
E āwhina ana i ngā tangata pai
He taught us all to be God’s slaves
I whakaako ia i a tātou
And he will be the one who saves
A ko ia te tangata
Humanity from sinful pride
Te kura tangata
Muhammad has God on his side
Kei te taha o Muhammad
So on this day be blessed and sing
Nō reira, i tēnei rā
For he was born to grace our Spring
He mea whānau ia
With lilies, flowers, life’s rebirth
Ki ngā riri, ki ngā puāwai
In a dome of green like his on earth
I roto i te tuanui kākāriki