‘Ko Wai Au?’

I returned to my people
and the language of my parents
was foreign to my ear.
The marae strangely deserted,
the old customs dying.
Now my heart cries
for I am the link that broke the chain.
The patere will not recall my name,
or that of my children.
I left my race as my husband left his,
and we are of the new;
but standing in the village,
that I left,
or in the city, to which
I don't belong.
Still I will ask
‘Who am I?’

G. A. Gurney