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The death of children – Kiswahili
A translation of Richard Berengarten’s poem ‘The death of children’
by Jane Bosibori Marando Obuchi
The death of children – Kiswahili
Translator's note on Kiswahili: Kiswahili is a Bantu language originally spoken by the Swahili people, who are found primarily in Tanzania, Kenya and Mozambique. (Read more about this translation over at the Appendix)
The death of children – Kiswahili
Kifo cha Watoto
Ni kifo cha watoto kinachochukiza zaidi
asili na haki. Hakuna haja kuuliza kwani.
Haki ni nini, hakuna aelewaye.
Ni adhabu ipi hurekebisha?
Hakuna kisingizio, udhuru au pazia.
Ni kifo cha watoto kinahochukiza zaidi.
Yeyote anayepinga hujifanya
kusoma mistari ya hatima. Lakini tuape kwa
haki ni nini, hakuna aelewaye.
Namna majaliwa au bahati hujisuka.
Ateteaye malengo yao na sababu nzuri husema uongo.
Ni kifo cha watoto kinachochukiza zaidi.
Kifo hakistahili kuvuna faida kama hizo
kutokana kwa hawa, ambao hawakuishi, wazazi wao hulia.
Haki ni nini, hakuna aelewaye.
Leteni faraja basi, na kutia shime. Wageni, marafiki
sisi sote si wazazi watoto wanapokufa?
Haki ni nini, hakuna aelewaye.
Ni kifo cha watoto kinachochukiza zaidi.
Translated by
Jane Bosibori Marando Obuchi