Adorned
Kings and Queens
Adorned.
Kings and Queens.
Ngā Kingi me ngā Kuini.
Head to toe.
In the finest treasures.
No, not sparkling jewels looted from stolen lands.
Rather, gifts from Rangi and Papa.
Taonga. Koha.
The finest feathers, fur, and flax.
Adorned.
Our Kings and Queens.
O mātou Kingi me ngā Kuini.
Eloquent in speech. He reka te kōrero.
Revered by the masses.
Mana.
Earned. Not handed on a silver platter…...
Here, where I stand, pomp and pageantry abound.
An elaborate spectacle.
Beneath the Union Jack.
Blinded masses. Adoring THEIR Queen.
Even my eyes are momentarily blinded.
What’s that you say? Your Queen is more superior?
Because you believe her looted jewels shine brighter than ours?
Savages you say.
Ariki we say.
Broken promises.
By YOUR Queen.
Lost at the stroke of a pen.
Lost in translation.
Our Kings and Queens.
O mātou Kingi me ngā Kuini.
Regally relegated to ‘second class’.
All the while,
Adorned.
I read this and flow into a staccato rhythm, like a drum beat. Love the kupu choices, and kings and queens pop up in my mind a lot for the very symbols I feel that your drawing on. The first of your contributions I've read and looking forward to experienciong your other works.
Perfect! 😍