Going Back Home Poem by Luo Zhihai

★ Going Back Home
☆ Poetry by Hannington Mumo


Traveled I to exotic places across the continent,
Dined with kings and queens and princes and princesses,
Seen foreign shores and mountains and ranges and ports;
I feel great attachment to such picturesque scenic places.

Yet I feel nostalgic about my home in Africa,
I desperately long to be with my family and friends
And feel tropical sun warm my forehead once more
And see the lions and elephants in their natural trends.

I long to walk down that footpath to my rural home
And reminisce upon my schooling youthful days,
Imagine I've heard my grandma's demised voice call again
Asking if I'd like some millet cake that distinguishes our ways!

Watch the expansive field marked with graves
Of all those mattered to me but are now no more,
Gone into the fertile Africa soil and to wait for the rain
To germinate the seeds of wisdom and love in its core.

So I bid you farewell my foreign friends,
Spread beyond the seas and too dear to forget,
I wish I could be split into parts to be with you all at once;
For could I would forever hold you all to your chest.


▲ Chinese Translation

★ 回家

☆ [肯尼亚] 汉宁顿•武茂（1987-） 诗
☆ [中国] 罗志海（1954-） 译


我横跨大陆去外国旅行
与国王、王后、王子和公主一起吃过饭
看到外国海岸、山脉、港口和牧场
我感觉好极了，十分依恋这如诗如画的风光

然而，我怀念我在非洲的家乡
我绝望地思念我的家人和朋友
再一次感受热带阳光温暖我的额头
看着在大自然乐园里的狮子和大象

我渴望能够顺着小径走到我农村的家门
回忆我上学的时光，回忆我的青春
想象一下，我又听到了我奶奶的遗言
问我是否想吃小米蛋糕，以此区分我们！

看着标有坟墓的广阔田地
所有这些曾大大影响过我，但现在不再影响呀
进入土壤肥沃的非洲，等待大雨倾盆飘洒
等待爱和智慧的种子发芽

所以我向你告别，我的外国朋友
今生难忘海洋碧波荡漾天空白云朵朵
我怀念与你在一起的每时每刻
永远记得曾与你相亲相拥过


2015年3月30日翻译
On March 30,2015, Translation