Celebrating New Zealand.
Sunset over Saddle Hill.
Aotearoa.
Pukeko struts across the empty land,
Ghostly shapes of pa and iwi stand,
Echoing cries of warriors long past,
Tendrils sway as koru�s shadow�s cast,
Across the waters clear and glassy sheen,
Mokos fierce mask on faces once seen,
Tui and bellbirds melody rings true,
Flax sways below skies, opulent, blue,
Tiki stands watch, near thermal eruptions,
Mountains spew, volcanic �abruptions�,
Gold and greenstone, wealth the Mainland bestows,
Shepherds tend flocks, a pod of whales blows,
Paua shells lustre concealed from above,
Totara carved, a labour of love,
Monarch butterfly, with gossamer wings,
Whanau a sense of unity brings,
Lone albatross, descends to the cliff face,
Pohutakawa stands bold, with grace,
Snow capped defence to the ocean�s roar,
A ponga tree sways, knocked by wild boar,
Prize of verdant forests, kauri�s stand proud,
Land of the long and endless white cloud.
Copyright �fecnz2002
Sunset over Saddle Hill.