Pat’it’i i te m’itaki i te pirara n’i
Ya pata-pati i te orire.
Eje m’ua m’i i te m’itaki
Kia kii te pute i te pata.
Kua ka kore toku ngutuare
Na pat’it’i i te pirara.
Manako koe ka ngere ’u?
T’ie te apinga makeke tu!
The Troublemaker wastes my substance
Playing marbles in the village;
No wealth she brings me
To fill my pockets.
Because of the Troublemaker’s losses
My house is empty.
But you think I have nothing left?
Behold my straight rod!
from ‘Mako no te Paré’ (Puka-Puka gambler’s lament)