Papa I Tok
07 June 2011
BY LAPIEH LANDU
An entry in The Crocodile Prize
Ol papa I lukim pinis
Taim nogut bai I kam
Graun ba I sot, na wara ba I pinis
Ol papa I lukim pinis
Ol lapun ba indai
Na haus man bai I nogat moa
Ol papa I lukim pinis
Kain kain sik bai I kam
Ol pisin lukautim bai I go hait
Ol papa I lukim pinis
Sitori bilong yumi bai dai
Na pasin tumbuna bai I lus
Ol papa I lukim pinis
Pasin wanbel bai ronowe
Koros na pait bai brukim mipela
Ol papa I lukim pinis
Taim nogut i kam pinis
Na tok tok bilong ol i stap laip
__________________
Fathers Have Spoken
Our fathers have seen it
Bad times are ahead
Land scarce, water gone
Our fathers have seen it
The old people will die
Men’s houses will be gone
Our fathers have seen it
Many illnesses will come
The birds will disappear
Our fathers have seen it
Our stories will be gone
Our traditions disappear
Our fathers have seen it
Tribal harmony escapes us
Arguments and fights divide us
Our fathers have seen it
Bad times have arrived
But our words survive
Translation by Keith Jackson
Lapieh Landu (22) was born in Port Moresby of mixed Eastern Highlands, Milne Bay and Sandaun parentage. She is a student at Divine Word University studying international relations. Lapieh has been writing poetry on a wide range of topics since she was a Year 8 student
Very refreshing to read a poem in Tok Pisin. Congratulations, Lapieh. Well done!
Reaching out to a majority of our people with our messages is crucial in changing some of our negative mind sets and behaviour and bringing about positive change in our society.
Perhaps all contributions to the Pukpuk Resis which will be published in the Post-Courier should also carry their Tok Pisin translations.
Posted by: David Kitchnoge | 08 June 2011 at 01:10 PM