Janette Hoppe #19 Hineteiwaiwa (1)

Atua (Goddess)

these hips are child bearing hips
they move to a rhythm all of their own
they swing and sway
and sing his name
these hips are tender hips

these hips are child bearing hips
strand by strand
the continuation of his lineage
woven into the web of my uterus
these hips are tender hips

these hips are child bearing hips
they swing and sway
and sing his name
they move to the rhythm of his hips
these hips are tender hips.



*Hineteiwaiwa is the atua (Goddess) of childbirth and te whare pora (weaving and female arts).  All mana is sourced from the Atua (Gods).  For Maori women, the sources of this mana (mana wahine) includes te ara uwha o Tahu (the heavenly female path of Tahu).
(Source:  Rawinia Higgins raua ko Paul Meredith.  'Te mana o te wahine - Maori women - Atua and tipua', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 11-Jun-13.  URL:http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/te-mana-o-te-wahine-maori-women/page-1).