Emotions

 In wananga class we are learning about our feelings/emotions. It is hard to talk about how we feel and what we are going through, with others. Rumi's poem "guest house" has taught us that, we as the guest house should allow our emotions in and welcome them, make sure we understand that they have entered. 

Parihaka

Tim Finn's song Parihaka is a way of remembering what happened to the people of Parihaka, and how much of an impact it has made worldwide.

 In the song he mentions "His children's children's wearing the white plume" While the arresting happened, Te Whit and Tohus followers wore white feathers which symbolised peace. Tim Finns sings "you cant pull out the foots" referring to you can dislocate us but you can't take away the culture, and the land our ancestors had found. 

A line he sings that showed how determined they were "rise up, defend yourself, never give in" shows that during the times when they all felt like giving up they kept pushing through "look to the sky, the spirit of Te Whiti" try looking for hope. 

This song mentions what happened and how the people dealt with it, Tim Finn explained in the song "To weep for my last brother, they gather still, the cloud of Taranaki" Which is just saying still till this day we will remeber, and acknowledge what our ancestors did for us. 

My Maps ( Parihaka location and what happened )

Slam Poetry

Out of all 3 videos I watched my favourtie one was "I'm not gay, but i'd go gay for John Key" by Brad McCormick. In his poem he talks about how much he "loves" John Key the prime minister. Brads Poem was funny "So packaway your jibes, if you say his vibe should be statseman like, confident, strong, you got it all wrong! Let that accent fly John, tell us how you care about, ordianry New Zealanders". He had a good way of keeping the audience hooked in as he kept cracking with more and more jokes. 

Video

Similes and Metaphors

Language features

Metaphor - A metaphor is a term you would use to symbolise another thing. For example a bright and sunny day written in a poem could be a way a metaphorical representation of happiness.

- The blanket was a cover of lava

- She sang like an angel from above

Simile - A simile is something people use when comparing two things, so highlighting the similarities between the two. An example "He is as tall as a giraffe". 

- He ran as fast as a cheetah

- She went on and on with the speed of a snail

Sensory language

First day of school

The Trees brushed against the air causing anything and everything to make a shift. As their feet clomped along the hard concrete ground, I took a sniff in and felt the sweet scent of Manuka flowers enter my nostrils. Walking along I listened to the children playing around with laughter, while nervously holding tight onto the strings of my bag worrying about how my first day would go. Quickly swallowing my strawberry sweet gum I made my way into class.

- In English class we are learning to use different language phrases or features. Today I wrote a paragraph using sensory language not using the words saw, heard, smelled, tasted and felt.  

Sprituals

African slaves would use songs also known as "spirituals" to keep faith, and just hold on a little longer. Singing was a tradition brought from Africa by the first slaves, this would be used as secret messages, kill bordem, funerals, or celebrations. As the white would torture the black, the Africans way of helping each other was singing cultural songs to communicate. A very famous lady named Harriet Tubman managed to escape around 70 slaves doing 13 trips from all around the slave trades all the way up north where slavery wasn't legal. She did this by using the underground railroad which was really a human train lead by Harriet Tubman, Not only that but she also used a song called Wade in the water to communicate with everyone. Spirituals/songs is a big thing in the African culture as it helped them have hope, a good example is sweet chariot. Racism is still evident today because of slavery years and years ago, but people are spreading the word "black lives matter" because of what happened and what has recently happened. Millions of people are acknowledging this through posts, videos, and even music. Black lives matter. 

Harriet used Wade in the water to tell everyone to get in the water which would wash the scent off them.

Wade in the water
Wade in the water
Children wade, in the water
God's gonna trouble the water
Who's that young girl dressed in red
Wade in the water
Must be the children that Moses led
God's gonna trouble the water

Wade in the water, wade in the water children
Wade in the water,
God's gonna trouble the water

Who's that young girl dressed in white
Wade in the water
Must be the children of the Israelite
Oh, God's gonna trouble the water

Wade in the water, wade in the water children
Wade in the water,
God's gonna trouble the water

Who's that young girl dressed in blue
Wade in the water
Must be the children that's coming through,
God's gonna trouble the water, yeah

Wade in the water,…

3 language features