WORDS TO MENDELSSOHN’S “CONSOLATION.”
Lord, my poor heart, with sadness now is breaking,
Longing for light, that I may find belief,
Aching for rest from these tumultuous doubtings,
Seeking to find the path that leads to peace.
But Oh! dear Lord, my soul refuses comfort;
Vainly I strive for the goal beyond this sad, sweet world.
Rest for eternity.
Grant then, Oh! Lord, the enlightenment of sorrow,
That gentle faith which comes through grief alone;
Ripened in hours of darkest tribulation,
When my poor soul stood face to face with Thee.
A MAIDEN OF TE PITO TE HENUA,
AN ISLAND IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC.
On her beautiful puoka (head)
Hung her raven-black rauoko (hair)
While love filled her mokoikoi (heart)
Her alabaster kiri (skin)
Gleamed on her kapu hivi (shoulder).
And her petticoats came down to her kuri (knee).
Sweet was her aerero (tongue);
White were her even niho (teeth),
And graceful her kakari munava (waist);
Voluptuous her ngutu (lips)
And shapely were her heru (legs).
Well developed were her kiko ua-ua (muscles).
Oh, this maid of Rapa Nin (island)
Bore a rima tuhi hana (ring).
Beloved was she by a tangala (man),
Who in his little vaka (boat)
Caught a wedding gift of ika (fish)
And breathed his tale of love in her ringa (ear).