MAKUTU
Lay hold oh Death
Lay hold on this man
Makutu
Rangahua, here thou art
kneel within, lie stretched out,
The blow-flies buzz. The maggots crawl
let him be cast out
to the place of the glow-worms.
Swarm upon him, O spirits from the sky
Swarm upon him, O spirits of the earth!
Let him be / cast to the deepest depths
to the darkness / for eternity
That Death may / gather him up
Seize the soul / of my victim
reduced to nothingness
He sways and staggers, in the midst of fire and smoke.
gripped by demons, then released,
shrunken....powerless
Cry to your fathers, beg to your gods!
Let your lips be drawn back from your teeth,
A grinning skull of terror
your eyes wildly glare! You are cast to the night, into the pit.... Thrust him down, O Rangi [Sky]! Immerse him in the depths, O Papa [Earth]!
Let him not appear again in the light of this world
Darkness of death envelops you! The sun of life shines forth on me
Tukua kia mate!
Karakia whakamate
Makutu
Makutu.......
Lay hold oh Death
Lay hold on this man
Makutu
Rangahua, here thou art
kneel within, lie stretched out,
The blow-flies buzz. The maggots crawl
let him be cast out
to the place of the glow-worms.
Swarm upon him, O spirits from the sky
Swarm upon him, O spirits of the earth!
Let him be / cast to the deepest depths
to the darkness / for eternity
That Death may / gather him up
Seize the soul / of my victim
reduced to nothingness
He sways and staggers, in the midst of fire and smoke.
gripped by demons, then released,
shrunken....powerless
Cry to your fathers, beg to your gods!
Let your lips be drawn back from your teeth,
A grinning skull of terror
your eyes wildly glare! You are cast to the night, into the pit.... Thrust him down, O Rangi [Sky]! Immerse him in the depths, O Papa [Earth]!
Let him not appear again in the light of this world
Darkness of death envelops you! The sun of life shines forth on me
Tukua kia mate!
Karakia whakamate
Makutu
Makutu.......