By Ombuge Moses
The river is dry
Plant weathered
Dry for wood
Wood for fire
The ground dusty
Bear feet women weak
Children loud cry
Wail in pain
Music has stopped
Dance no more
Rhythmic lost
The animal is carcass
Dead bonny no meat
Birds try walk
Fly is difficult
Dust in the eye
Ear too deaf
The wings no flap
Flap no flip
The strength is gone
The ground burning
The wind too hot
The rhythm is new
Dust in the eye
Shed under tree
In blanket men sleep
Covered to head
The strength is gone
Wood in plenty
Food not to find
Cooking is history
In books to write
Plate in plenty
Metallic is best
Awaits the food
Dust in the eye
Painful to the eye
The people suffer
My village is home
Home to thatches
Home that houses
Houses of a problems
The river is dry
The strength is gone
Dust in the eye
Birds try walking
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
I like the traditional touch...there's a good play of words that goes on in the first and second verses but the rhythmic sound flow is lost within verse 3. However, I don't know if it's accidental or deliberate but the second line of v3 seems to inform the reader of the change of rhythm: The rhythm is new; this is a good catch on your side as the poet. Good work...There's a bit of asynchronicity with your use of repetition, check on that too.