by M. M. Mulokozi
| (1) Daima alfajiri na mapema | Always early in the morning |
| Hunipitia na jembe na kotama | He passes by me with hoe and sickle |
| Katika njia iendayo kondeni | Along the path that goes to the fields |
| Kama walivyofanya babuze zamani; | Just as his ancestors did long before him; |
| Nimuonapo huwa atabasamu | Whenever I see him he is always smiling |
| Kama mtu aliye na kubwa hamu | Like someone with a great desire |
| Kushika mpini na kutokwa jasho | To work his tools (lit., seize the handle) and sweat |
| Ili kujikimu kupata malisho. | To support himself to get his sustenance. |
| (2) Anapotembea anasikiliza | While he walks along he’s listening |
| Videge vya anga vinavyotumbwiza | As the birds of the sky sing sweetly in the sky |
| Utadhani huwa vimemngojea | You would think they have been waiting |
| Kwa usiku kucha kuja kumwimbia; | The whole night long to come to sing to him; |
| Pia pepo baridi kumpepea | The cool winds refreshing him |
| Rihi ya maua zikimletea | Bringing him the scent of flowers |
| Nao umande kumbusu miguu | And also the dew kissing his feet |
| Na kumsafisha mavumbi ya juu; | And cleaning off the dust on them (i.e., his feet); |
| Na miti yote hujipinda migongo | With all the trees bending their backs (over him) |
| Kumpapasa, kumtoa matongo; | Caressing him, taking away his “sleepies” |
| Na yeye kuendelea kwa furaha | And he happily continuing on |
| Kuliko yeyote ninayemjua | More so than anyone I know |
| Akichekelea ha ha ha ha ha ha … | Smiling & laughing hah, hah, hah … |
| (3) Na mimi kubaki nikijiuliza | And left behind I can only ask myself |
| Kuna siri gani inamliwaza? | What sort of secret comforts him? |
| Au ni kujua au kutojua? | Does he even know or not? |
| Furaha ya mtu ni furaha gani | What kind of happiness is a person’s happiness |
| Katika dunia inayomhini? | In a world which refuses to give him anything? |
| Ukali wa jua wamnyima zao. | The fierceness of the sun refuses to give him a harvest |
| (4) Soko la dunia lamkaba koo; | The world market has him by the throat |
| Dini za kudhani zamsonga roho | Religions of ??? beat down his spirit |
| Ayalimia matumbo ya waroho; | He cultivates for the stomachs of the greedy; |
| Kuna jambo gani linamridhisha? | What is it that makes him happy? |
| Kama si kujua ni kutokujua | Does he know or not? |
| Laiti angalijua, laiti angalijua! | Oh would that he knew, would that he knew! |
Summary
The poet is struck by the peasant’s simple joys and how nature comforts him. He sees his eagerness to begin his day even though the world about him is oppressive and harsh. Yet he holds on to his happiness. How can he be so happy and carefree? What is his secret? Is he even aware of it? The author alludes to global economic policies, viz., soko la duni. It is the outside larger world that governs the conditions of daily life in a developing country. Yet, we see the peasant go on, ignorantly or with full awareness, we can’t be sure!
Glossary
| babu | [n. 9/10 an. ~ 5/6 an.] | Ancestor, grandfather (TJH). Kama walivyofanya babuze zamani; Just as his ancestors did long before him (M&K-Mk1). |
| chekelea | [v. intns.] | Laugh, smile, smile at; see -cheka laugh (TJH). Akichekelea ha ha ha ha ha ha …; Smiling & laughing hah, hah, hah, hah… (M&K-Mk2). |
| dini ya kudhani | [n. np.] | Religions of ???. Dini za kudhani zamsonga roho; Religions of ??? beat down his spirit (M&K-Mk4). |
| hini | [v. tr.] | Refuse to give (to), withhold (from), keep back (from) (FJ). Fanya hiana; 2. kataa kutoa kitu; nyima (KKS). Furaha ya mtu ni furaha gani Katika dunia inayomhini? What kind of happiness is a person’s happiness In a world which refuses to give him anything? (M&K-Mk3). |
| kidege/vi- | [n. 7/8 dim.] | Little bird (TJH). Anapotembea anasikiliza; Videge vya anga vinavyotumbwiza; While he walks along he’s listening; As the birds are singing sweetly in the sky (M&K-Mk2). |
| kimu | [v. tr.] | Support, provide sustenance (TJH). Pa mtu chakula, nguo n.k. kwa kawaida; pa mtu mahitaji ya maisha; lea, tunza, weka (KKS). Ili kujikimu kupata malisho; In order to support himself to get his sustenance (M&K-Mk1). |
| konde | [n. 5/6] | Cultivated field, garden (TJH). A field-clearing, cultivated piece of ground, garden which has been cultivated before (FJ). Hunipitia na jembe na kotama Katika njia iendayo kondeni; He passes by me with hoe and sickle Along the path that goes to the fields (M&K-Mk1). |
| kotama | [n. 9/10] | Sickle (TJH). A thin carved broad bladed knife, used in getting palm wine (gema tembo), esp. for cutting a thin slice from the growing shoot to enable the sap to flow more freely (FJ). Kisu chenye ncha iliyopinduka; ramba; upumba; pia kikotama (KKS). Hunipitia na jembe na kotama; He passes by me with hoe and sickle (M&K-Mk1). |
| liwaza | [v. tr.] | Soothe, comfort (FJ). Bembeleza ili kutoa mtu majonzi; fariji, poza (KKS). Kuna siri gani inamliwaza? What sort of secret comforts him? (M&K-Mk3). |
| malisho | [n. 6] | Food, sustenance (TJH). Pasturage, grazing-ground, paddock, forage, food for cattle (FJ). Ili kujikimu kupata malisho; To support himself to get his sustenance (M&K-Mk1). |
| mroho/wa- | [n. 1/2] | Greedy, avaricious, covetous person, one who eats hastily, or more than his share when invited to food, also one who frequents other people’s houses in the hope of being invited to food (FJ). Ayalimia matumbo ya waroho; He cultivates for the stomachs of the greedy (M&K-Mk4). |
| papasa | [v. tr.] | Caress, fondle (TJH). Stroke with the hand, touch gently, rub lightly; (2) grope about, feel about, feel one’s way in the dark with hands spread out (FJ). Kumpapasa, kumtoa matongo; Caressing him, taking away his sleep (M&K-Mk2). |
| pepea | [v. tr.] | Blow on to cool, refresh, fan (TJH). Fan, wave (like a fan), wave about in the air, make a current of air (FJ). Pia pepo baridi kumpepea; The cool winds to refresh him as well (M&K-Mk2). |
| rihi | [n. 9/10] | Scent, smell (TJH). Harufu (KKS). Gas in the stomach (FJ). Rihi ya maua zikimletea; Bringing him the scent of flowers (M&K-Mk2). |
| songa | [v. tr.] | Beat down, oppress (TJH). Dini za kudhani zamsonga roho; Religions of ??? beat down his spirit (M&K-Mk4). |
| tabasamu | [v. i.] | Smile (FJ). Nimuonapo huwa atabasamu; Whenever I see him he is always smiling (M&K-Mk1). |
| tongo/ma- | [n. 5/6] | Occular excretum, “sleepies, sleep” (TJH). Kumpapasa, kumtoa matongo; Caressing him, taking away his sleep (M&K-Mk2). |
| tumbwiza | [n. tr.] | Serenade, sing sweat songs (TJH). See –tumbuiza, soothe by singing, make a soothing sound with or without words, sing to, sing by turns (FJ). Anapotembea anasikiliza, Videge vya anga vinavyotumbwiza; While he walks along he’s listening, As the birds are singing sweetly in the sky (M&K-Mk2). |