Mirrors: The Aborigne Poetry of Eldred Van-ooy by justin spring - HTML preview

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Mi Go Ples Bilong Mi: LITERAL TRANSLATION      

 

Mi saevi bainbai yu wetim long mi

I KNOW SOON YOU WAIT FOR ME

long wanples,

IN THE SAME PLACE,

hed bilong yu em i-stapim haf long haus bilong rod ayan,

YOUR HEAD WILL BE HALF IN THE HOUSE OF THE RAILROAD,

hors i-stap baek long yu, em i-saekim yu long dor.

THE HORSES WILL BE IN BACK OF YOU, PUSHING YOU IN THE DOOR.

Na olsem oltaim,

AND IN THE SAME WAY AS ALWAYS

taim mi helo long yu, mi singawtim yu "Uncle",

WHEN I GREET YOU, I CALL YOU "UNCLE",

yu tokim mi yu no gat samting.

YOU WILL SAY TO ME NOTHING.

Na taim mi sidawn long haefsaid long yu,

AND WHEN I SITDOWN BESIDE YOU,

go haws bilong yu,

TO GO TO YOUR HOME,

laen go awtsaid long mifela olsem tudark rivar,

THE LAND GOES OUTSIDE OF US LIKE A DARK RIVER,

na hors lait long munmun long baeksaid,

THE HORSES SHINING WITH MOONS ON THEIR BACKS,

mi no hirim singawt, tasol

BUT I DON'T HEAR A SOUND, ONLY

singawt long mifela i-stap.

THE SOUND OF OUR BEING.

Na bainbai taim fair bilong haus kamap

AND SOON WHEN THE HOUSE-FIRES RISE UP

olsem longwe starstar

LIKE DISTANT STARS

mi hirim tasol singawt bilong yu

I WILL HEAR ONLY YOUR VOICE

em i-kamap na fal.

RISING AND FALLING.

Yu singim singawt bilong yu, em i-no gat frant, i-no gat ars.

YOU SING YOUR SOUND, IT HAS NO FRONT, HAS NO END.

Yet mi kichim tok long singawt yu sing.

YET I UNDERSTAND SOUND YOU SING.

Na mi sing wantaim lon yu.

NOW I SING WITH YOU.

Long wonam mi sing?. Mi no saevi.

WHY DO I SING? I DON'T KNOW.

Na mi sing tu.

NOW I SING ALSO.

 

                                                          JAN 27, 1939

 

                                                 

 

                      

 

 

 

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