hā pīwakawaka
kua hoki mai koe anō.
ki taku kāinga.
he aha te kaupapa
o tō kōrero roa
tēnei wā?
kāore ahau he mōhio tonu!
e rongo ana ahau i a koe.
e kite ana ahau i a koe.
engari, kei te ngaro ahau
tō karere.
hā pīwakawaka,
kaua e mutu
tō waiata.
kaua e tuku koe
tō kōrero ki ahau;
he tāne me ngā taringa maitai,
engari me he ngākau,
he roro,
he tinana—
ka hiahia katoa
kia rongo koe,
mō āke tonu.
Translation: the return of the fantail
hey fantail
you have returned again.
to my home.
what is the subject of
your long speech
this time?
I still don’t know.
I hear you.
I see you.
but I am lost
about your message.
hey fantail,
don’t stop
your song.
don’t give up
your speech to me;
a man with deaf ears,
but with a heart,
a brain,
a body—
all want
to experience you
forever.