by K. K. Kahigi
| 1. Wakati jua lingali lawaka, mpenzi, | While the sun still shines, my love, |
| hebu tujitayarishe kwa letu kumbato | Please let us ready ourselves for our embrace |
| hebu tujitayarishe kwa yale mabusu | Let us prepare ourselves for those kisses |
| tuziridhishe zetu nafsi. | Let us satisfy our hearts. |
| 2. Wakati jua lingali lawaka, mpenzi, | While the sun still shines, my love, |
| hebu tujifunge vibwebwe imara | Let us resolutely prepare ourselves for work |
| msimu wa pamba, mtama na mahindi umepiga hodi | (For) the cotton, millet, and maize season has announced itself |
| tuwe tayari kulikabili jua kali | Let’s be ready to face the hot sun |
| kuwakabili nduli waharibifu | to face the pitiless, destructive enemy |
| ndege, nyani, nguruwe, na nungunungu | birds, baboons, pigs, and porcupines |
| na upepo unaoangamiza. | and the wind which destroys. |
| 3. Wakati jua lingali lawaka, mpenzi, | While the sun still shines, my love, |
| hebu nibusu, mpenzi, nami nikubusu, | please kiss me, my love, and let me kiss you |
| chukua jembe, nami nichukue lingine | take the hoe, and let me take another |
| na tutalima shamba la maisha | and we will cultivate the field of life |
| pamoja, wewe na mimi | together, you and I. |
| 4. Na baada ya ushindi wa jembe na jasho | And after victory of hoe and sweat |
| Na baada ya kuvuna uhondo huo | And after that sweet harvest |
| Usitawi wa maisha yetu | The fruition of our life |
| Nitakusimulia kigano cha busu na kumbato | I will tell you a tale of a kiss and embrace |
| la wawili wapendanao | of two who love each other |
| Nitaweka kiitikio cha wimbo mwororo | I will set (in verse) a refrain of a tender song |
| Nikisifu uzuri wa jua kuwaka | Praising the beauty of the dazzling sun |
| Na uzuri wa mvua kunyesha | And the goodness of the falling rain |
| Na mvuto wa mapigo ya maisha! | And the attraction of the rhythm of life |
| Wakati jua lingali lawaka, mpenzi. | While the sun still shines, my love. |
Summary
An idyllic love poem.
Glossary
| imara | [adv.] | Strongly, steadfastly, firmly, resolutely (TJH). Hebu tujifunge vibwebwe imara, Let us resolutely prepare ourselves (M&K-WJLL1) |
| jifunga kibwebwe | [v. phrase] | Gird oneself for work, get oneself ready for work (TJH). Hebu tujifunge vibwebwe imara, Let us prepare ourselves for those kisses (M&K-WJLL2). |
| kibwebwe/vi- | n. 7/8 | Broad strip of calico, wound tightly round the waist, esp. by women, for support during work, sometimes called kibobwe (FJ). Nguo inayozungushwa na kukazwa kiunoni hasa na wanawake: Kujifunga kibwebwe (nh) kufanya kazi kwa bidii. Kijiandaa vizuri, tighten one’s belt (KKS). Hebu tujifunge vibwebwe imara, Let us prepare ourselves for those kisses (M&K-WJLL2). |
| kigano/vi- | [n. 7/8] | Tale, story (dim.) (TJH). See ngano: story, a tale, narrative, fable (FJ). Nitakusimulia kigano cha busu na kumbato, I will tell you a tale of a kiss and embrace (M&K-WJLL4). |
| kiitikio/vi- | [n. 7/8] | Refrain (poetry), reply (TJH). See itikio/ma- a reply to, refrain, chorus, an acceptance, consent; also –ita and -itika (FJ). Nitaweka kiitikio cha wimbo mwororo, I will set (in verse) a refrain of a tender song (M&K-WJLL4). |
| kumbato | [n. 5/6] | Embrace, caress; not in this form in FJ (TJH). See –kumbatia clasp in the arms, embrace (FJ). Hebu tujitayarishe kwa letu kumbato, Please let us ready ourselves for our embrace (M&K-WJLL1) |
| mharibifu/wa- | [n. 1/2] | Destroyer, spoiler, corrupter (TJH). See –haribu (FJ). Tuwe tayari kulikabili jua kali, Kuwakabili nduli waharibifu, Let’s be ready to face the hot sun, To face the pitiless, destructive enemy (M&K-WJLL1 |
| nafsi | [n. 9/10] | Heart, being (TJH). Vital spirit, breath, soul, self, person, individuality, essence; generally used to emphasize personality (FJ). Tuziridhishe zetu nafsi, Let us satisfy our hearts. (M&K-WJLL1) |
| nduli | [n. 9/10] | Pitiless, merciless person (TJH). A savage person, a killer, murderous, blood-shedding person; 2. the angel of death, Izraili. (Perh. from ua (ula), kill) (FJ). Mtoa roho; adui asiye na huruma; dhalimu, katili. 2. malaika wa mauti; Izraili (KKS). Tuwe tayari kulikabili jua kali, Kuwakabili nduli waharibifu, Let’s be ready to face the hot sun, To face the pitiless, destructive enemy (M&K-WJLL2). |
| ororo | [adj.] | Soft, tender, delicate, sensitive, gentle, smooth, velvety (TJH). Soft, smooth, velvety, tender (FJ). Nitaweka kiitikio cha wimbo mwororo, I will set (in verse) a refrain of a tender song (M&K-WJLL4). |
| pigo/ma- | [n. 5/6] | Rhythm, beat, tempo, cadence; throb (TJH). Blow, stroke, beat, e.g. aliwafundisha mapigo ya ngoma, he taught them the proper beats of the drum; pigo mbili (tatu, etc.), two (three, etc.) pulse measure. (2) calamity, plague, etc. Nikisifu uzuri wa jua kuwaka… Na mvuto wa mapigo ya maisha. Praising the beauty of the dazzling sun… And the attraction of the rhythm of life (M&K-WJLL4). |
| ridhisha | [v. cs.] | Cause to be content, satisfy, please, win approval of (FJ). Tuziridhishe zetu nafsi, Let us satisfy our hearts. (M&K-WJLL1). |
| uhondo | n. 14 | Sweet abundance, sweetness; pleasant situation, agreeable matter (TJH). Hali ya kufaidi vitu vitamu (KKS). Big feast, generous entertainment (FJ). Abundance of nice, sweet, fancy food, banquet; wealth, abundance; present, extra gift (K&K). Na baada ya kuvuna uhondo huo, And after that sweet harvest (M&K-WJLL4). |
| usitawi | [n. 14] | Prosperity, thriving situation, fruition (TJH). Flourishing condition, healthy development, full activity, success (FJ). See –sitawi be in good condition, reach full development, flourish, succeed, go off well, be in full swing, be at the height, e.g. of healthy plants, of social functions, dances (ngoma), a feast (karamu), a wedding (arusi), or of trade (biashara) (FJ). Usitawi wa maisha yetu, The fruition of our life (M&K-WJLL4). |