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The death of children – Dholuo
A translation of Richard Berengarten’s poem ‘The death of children’
by Jack E. Odongo Ogembo
The death of children – Dholuo
“Dholuo is the language of the Luo people, lit. ‘mouth of the Luo’. (Read more about this translation over at the Appendix)”
The death of children – Dholuo
THO MAR NYITHINDO
En tho mar nyithindo emachwanyo chunyji mathoth
Kit chwech kod chik. Onge tiende penjo gima omiyo,
Kata luwo chike, Onge ng’at mong’eyo tiendgi.
Ere chwat manyalo reso ng’at moyudo kuyo kama?
Onge wuondruok, ywagruok kata riyo dhok ni neaonge,
En tho mar nyithindo emachwanyo chunyji mathoth
Ng’ato ang’ata manyalo mino wachni wuondore
Ni ong’eyo loko dhoch mag ngima. Kata obedoni nyaka wakuong’re kod
Gima chik wacho, onge ng’ato mong’eyo tiendgi
Kaka oru mar piny kata poruok otudore engima. Ere ngat manyalo siro
Timbegi kosiemo gik momiyo mawinjore, en jamriambo
En tho mar nyithindo emachwanyo chunyji mathoth.
Tho ok onego yud pok ewi nyinyo machalo kama
Kagikeyo kuom joma pod kochako ngima, majonyuolgi ywak.
Tiend ratiro, onge ng’at mong’eyo
Kel hocho kaeto imed kod chir. Joma, osiepe,
Donge waduto wan jonyuol ka nyithindo tho?
Tiend ratiro, onge ng’at mong’eyo
En tho mar nyithindo emachwanyo chunyji mathoth.
Translated by
Jack Ogembo