Hiri Hanenamo emi danis
13 January 2021
MICHAEL DOM
This new poem in Tok Pisin and English uses the primaquatrain poetic form which I have invented. It is meant for original composition in Tok Pisin and seems to work well that way for me - MTD
Eh, meri nambis ia
Longpela garas bilong yu
Emi tanim ai bilong mi
Na tromoi lewa olsem purpur
Mi sanap arere long lain kokonas
Na harim win i sak sakim kundu
Em lewa tasol i paraip taim mi tingim
Eh, meri nambis ia
Bihain long nait mi driman gut tru
Long holim han bilong yu
Na mi ting olsem mi pul pulim
Longpela garas bilong yu
Tasol taim mi laik toktok
Nek bilong mi drai nating
Tingting i sot na bel hevi
Emi tanim ai bilong mi
Olomania, san imas kukim het
Taim yu danis mi kamap kulau
Ai bilong yu i katim mi
Na tromoi lewa olsem purpur
Hiri Hanenamo dances (English version)
MICHAEL DOM
Oh, coastal girl
Your long flowing hair
Spins my eyes around
And tosses my heart like your grass skirt
I stand along the coconut grove
And hear the drums thru the wind
But it is my heart beating in recall
Oh, coastal girl
Later at night I dream sweetly
Of holding your hand
And think that I am combing
Your long flowing hair
But when I try to speak
My throat suddenly gets dry
I can’t think, my belly feels so bad it
Spins my eyes around
Oh man, the sun has cooked my brain
When you dance I am a green coconut
Your eyes cut through me
And tosses my heart like your grass skirt
Primaquatrain, 8 January 2021
Hiri Hanenamo ena koe
Eh, Hiri Hanenamo
Huimu latana namo hereana
Ese matagu eme paia
Bona kudougu eme hamarerea emu koe ramina odaveamu na heto
Name gini niu laini gabanai
Bena gaba regena name kamonaia mirigini ena to ai
Toh ina na egu helalo lou ai kudougu eheta ehude ehude
Eh, Hiri Hanenamo
Bena hanuaboi ai na nihi hereadae na ta laiamu
Imamu nadogoa
Bona helalo lou nadu ariamu
Huimu latana namo hereana
Nauram baina hereva toh,
Gadogu vada eme kaukau
Egu lalohadae eme ore lalogu ena hisihisi
Ese matagu eme paia
O taunimanima, dina ese kwaragu eme gabua
Emu koe ai niu karu na heto
Matamu ese eme polagu
Bona kudougu eme hamarerea emu koe ramina odaveamu na heto
*Special thank you to Gou Gari of Hanuabada for her reading and confirmation of this poem's translation. Ia namo herea momokani, Michael. It's very good indeed.
Posted by: Philip Fitzpatrick | 24 February 2022 at 09:09 PM
Phil, the Motu version is here.
https://plessingsing.com/2022/01/26/hiri-hanenamo-ena-koe/
Posted by: Michael Dom | 24 February 2022 at 07:09 AM
Tenkiu tumas Phil.
Hiri Motu version is on our schedule.
Ples Singsing Blog presents the Tok-singsing Tryouts
1. Write a Hiri Motu version of Hiri Hanenamo emi danis and win K20 mobile credits, become famous by having it posted on Ples Singsing and PNG Attitude and have eternal glory by inclusion in a new book of translated poems by poet Michael Dom.
2. Create one poem in the 'primaquatrain' form and translate that between two or three of our national languages, English, Tok Pisin and Hiri Motu.
Winning poem receives K100 mobile credits, runner-up K50, all poems will be published and the best will be included in the new book of translated poems.
Competition dated to end on March 21 but close sooner so this is a small window of opportunity.
Send your entries or inquiries to [email protected]
Em tasol.
Posted by: Ples Singsing Masterminds | 13 January 2021 at 10:11 AM
That works really well.
You also need a Hiri Motu version I reckon.
Posted by: Philip Fitzpatrick | 13 January 2021 at 09:24 AM