MI PRAKSERI MY THOUGHT
Mi prakseri sdon My thought is
ini wan er' tra ten in quite a different time frame
lek' a winti d' e way now just like the wind that's now blowing
gi mi brok'ede is causing me problems
m' e luku I watch
fa tranga winti how strong wind
e sek' den bigi taki moves the large boughs
trowe den youngu froktu dropping the unripe fruits
a tap mi owru dronpu on my old stoop
mi prakseri My thought goes
e sungu go down
n' a grebi f' bakaten the grave of afterthought
di sa sor' en fesi that shall show its face
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BATO BOAT OF LIFE
Bato f' libi Boat of life
sondro marki without code number
a mindri grontapu maka amid the world's vagaries
luk' fa y' op' ede e brenki mindri den bromki see how your bow is raised
pe asege e sing' a moro hey sten shining among the flowers
where crickets are singing the highest tune
Bato f' libi Boat of life
nanga yu bradi seyri with your broad sails
d' e kot' pangi mindri a son displaying your plaids in the sun
ondro wan busgasi f' sorgu under an undergrowth of worries,
d' e nak' dawra wik' sribi yorka that beat the gongs to waken sleeping ghosts
luk' fa kwasibita e wroko lek' prugasi See how kwasibita works like purgative
a mindri wan brudu swanpu in a swamp of blood
pe asema or' fayatiki e frey lek' edeman where the vampire with torch in hand
flies as the leader.
Bato f' libi Boat of life
di kaka borsu lek' wan gansi sails with chest bulging like a gander
e dukrun swen mindri brantimaka that dives to swim under the spiny water plants
a mindri wan se fu frenti nanga feyanti in a sea of amity and enmity
pe mekunu e nyan sapa a ondrosey where trust ends up being the victim
Wan dey e kon However,
fu skin dongo nanga son a berpe sabana a day will come
pe a ten sa tanapu skrifi for the body to set with the sun
a tap' wan por' udu mindri den yarfrey: in the savanna resting place
"Dyaso a bato f' libi didon". where time will stand up and write
on a piece of rotten wood among the termites:
"Here lies the boat of life."
Poems from 'Awese' copyright © by Johanna Schouten-Elsenhout Estate, Paramaribo, 1965
Copyright this English translation 'Awese: Light in This Everlasting Dark Moon' © by
D. France Olivieira, Paramaribo, Suriname, 2010
FARJOURNEY CARIBBEAN 