did Hinemoa have bi husband energy?
spend hours of her day painting little
figurines while relaxing in her tie-dye
t-shirts she bought from aliexpress
leave one ear free of her headset while
playing games with her crew
to hear about her tāne’s day
help him with his make-up when
going out on the town
whisper an encouraging go and get
them as he nervously readies
to leave the house
did she awhiawhi her Tūtānekai when
he was in grief about his lost love Tiki
I know my partner comforted me when I
fell for someone I could not be with
held me in our bed (the bed-frame
precariously holding our weight –
our relationship the clear effort to
keep this configuration of
wood stable) she kisses my forehead
to sleep and sings me to another world
did Hinemoa do the same for her lover
did she waiata his loss into something
they could hold together
something they could both
sleep comfortably on?
essa may ranapiri (Ngāti Wehi Wehi, Ngāti Raukawa, Te Arawa, Waikato-Tainui, Ngāti Pukeko, Ngāti Takatāpui, Clan Gunn) is a poet who lives on Ngāti Wairere whenua. They have a great love for language, LAND BACK and hot chips. Their first book of poetry ransack was published in 2019. Echidna is their second book. They will write until they’re dead. (they/ia)
Poem note: This was first written as part of a koha for a lovely takatāpui wānanga that I'm so thankful to have been a part of, the poem is about two people I love deeply, and how thankful I am to my partner. It is another poem that digs into the complex relationship of Te Arawa ancestors; Hinemoa, Tūtānekai & Tiki. What was it like for Hinemoa to have a husband whose heart was in two places?