by K. K. Kahigi

Niliamka jogoo lililowika	I awoke when the rooster crowed
(1) Niliamka jogoo lilipowika,	I awoke when the rooster crowed
Giza lilipoanza kutoweka;	When darkness began to disappear
Mapambazuko yalipoibuka,	When dawning light emerged
Ndipo niliamka.	It was then I awoke.
(2) Basi nikaamka	And so I awoke
Toka njozini nikavuvumka	From a dream I jolted awake
Banketi jeusi nikalitoka	And I left the black blanket
Nikazinawa tongo za usiku	I washed away the night’s dregs
Mtima ukajifunda kikaka	My heart tied itself firmly
Kwenye fundo la chuma	Into an iron knot
Kuikabili siku mpya	To face the new day
Msukumo wa malimwengu.	The push of the world’s concerns.
(3) Nje, siku mpya ilikuwa	Outside, the new day had
Na utenzi wa kutisha kusimulia.	A frightful tale to tell.
Palikuwa na tufani zenye meno makali,	There were fierce storms with sharp teeth
Ziangamizazo mimea	That devastated the vegetation
Na kukumba ardhi yote ya rutuba.	And pummeled all the fertile land
Nikazidi kuamka,	And I went on getting up
Niikabili siku mpya	So I might face the new day
Na malimwengu yasukumayo mbele siku.	And the world’s affairs that push the day ahead.

Summary

In spite of what a new day brings, however harsh and destructive, one must get out of bed each day, and deal with reality.

Glossary

angamiza	[v. cs.]	Devastate (TJH). Destroy, vanquish, utterly defeat; (2) also used of property, ruin, waste (FJ). Palikuwa na tufani zenye meno makali ziangamizazo mimea, There were fierce storms with sharp teeth that devastated the vegetation (M&K-NJL3).
funda	[v. tr.]	Tie in a knot (TJH). See fundo knot. Mtima ukajifunda kikaka, My heart tied itself firmly (M&K-NJL2).
ibuka	[v. i.]	Emerge, show up suddenly, spring up; come to light (TJH). See -ibua: toa kwa ghafla kilicho majini ili kionekane; zua (KKS). Not in FJ. Mapambazuko yalipoibuka, Ndipo niliamka, When dawning light apppeared, it was then I awoke (M&K-NJL1).
kikaka	[adv.]	Firmly, in a hurry (TJH). Kithabiti, kwa haraka (KKahigi). Hastiness, bustle, hurry, in a hurry Cl. 7/8 n. (FJ). Mtima ukajifunda kikaka, kwenye fundo la chuma, My heart tied itself firmly into an iron knot (M&K-NJL2).
kumba	[v. tr.]	Pummel, batter, pound (TJH). Push, shove, press against, jostle, attack (FJ). Palikuwa na tufani zenye meno makali ziangamizazo mimea, na kukumba ardhi yote ya rutuba, There were fierce storms with sharp teeth that devastated the vegetation and pummeled all the fertile land (M&K-NJL3).
malimwengu	[n. 6]	Worldly affairs, worldly pleasures or interests (FJ). Kuikabili siku mpya, msukumo wa malimwengu, To face a new day, the push of worldly concerns (M&K-NJL2).
mtima/mi-	[n. 3/4]	Heart, soul, spirit (TJH). Heart; 2. feeling, emotion. 3. rel. soul (CR). Listed in FJ as “seldom used now”. Mtima ukajifunda kikaka, My heart tied itself firmly (M&K-NJL2).
msukumo/mi-	[n. 3/4]	Pushing, push, shove; see -sukuma push (TJH). Kuikabili siku mpya, msukumo wa malimwengu, To face a new day, the push of worldly concerns (M&K-NJL2).
njozi	[n. 9/10]	Dream (TJH). Vision, apparition (FJ). Maono yatokeayo usingizini; ndoto, ruia (KKS). Phantom, apparition, ghost (CR). Toka njozini nikavuvumka, As from a dream I jolted awake (M&K-NJL2).
tufani	[n. 9/10]	Storm; see Eng. typhoon (TJH). Storm, gale, tempest, hurricane, e.g. of rain, wind, and thunder together (FJ). Palikuwa na tufani zenye meno makali ziangamizazo mimea, There were fierce storms with sharp teeth that devastated the vegetation (M&K-NJL3).
utenzi/tenzi	[n. 11/10]	Story, tale, poem, epic poem (TJH). Poem, esp. of a religious kind, an old story told in verse (FJ). Nje, siku mpya ilikuwa na utenzi wa kutisha kusimulia, Outside, the new day had a frightful tale to tell (M&K-NJL3).
utongo/tongo	[n. 11/10]	Rheum, ocular secretion; “sleepies, sleep” (TJH). Discharge from the eyes (FJ). Uchafu au taka nyeupe zitakazo machoni (KKahigi). Nikazinawa tongo za usiku; I washed away the night’s dregs (M&K-NJL2).
vuvumka	[v. i.]	Rise up suddenly, get up quickly, jolt up (TJH). Toka kwa nguvu (KKahigi). Grow up fast, develop quickly, shoot up—of vegetation and also animal life, e.g. of mangoes, children, of dough rising (FJ). Toka njozini nikavuvumka, From a dream I jolted awake (M&K-NJL2).