30 days in 30 tongues

[dhobikikutti]

Ok, since its the U.S. National Poetry Month, lets see if we can get this comm rolling with a poem a day, in 30 different languages. With the original in script and/or transliteration along with a translation.

I can get us started out with the poems I tracked down for dark_agenda prompts, but I can't do it on my own!

Kiswahili Risala enuka hima sikae ukaatwili nina jambo takutuma ubalegheshe suali nipate jawabu njema yenye amani na kweli ... Nauliza Kiswahili ni lugha ya watu gani. Lugha nyingi duniani zatamkwa mbalimbali na zote ulimwenguni zina wenyewe mahali. ... Si Hindi si Uzunguni ... mewaumbia Jalali. ... Nauliza Kiswahili... Wakamba wana kikwao lugha yao ya aswili na Wazungu pia nao wana zao mbalimbali na Wameru wana yao wengini ni Wasomaii ndizo matamshi yao. Na yetu ni lugha gani. Wahindi wana Kihindi kwa kabila mbali mbali na Wanandi ni Kinandi ... ndizo zao akuwali Wengine ni Wakilindi ... wana yao ya aswili Jee hichi Kiswahili ni lugha ya watu gani. Kuuliza si ujinga musinifanye sahili nautafuta muanga tuzunduane akili ndipo shairi 'katunga kubaleghesha suali. Nielezwe Kiswahili ... Ni lugha ya watu gani. Mara nyingi husikiya kuwa hichi Kiswahili hakina mtu mmoya ambaye ni yake kweli Na wagine huteteya Kina wenyewe aswili. Ndipo 'kamba Kiswahili ... ni lugha ya watu gani Masai ana kikwao lugha ya tangu azali na Mahara wana yao ... wengine Mashelisheli ... na Waluo lugha zao si sawa na Maragoli ... Jee hichi Kiswahili... Na jamii wengineo wana lugha mbalimbali na kujua za wenzao ni kujifunza ya pili Lakini wana na zao lugha za tangu aswili. Jee hichi Kiswahili... Sasa ambalo nataka kwa wenye kujua hili wa Kenya na Tanganyika na walo kila mahali nipani ilo hakika tusifitane ukweli Nambiani Kiswahili ni lugha ya watu gani Mimi mefikiri mno kuamua jambo hili na 'kaona lugha hino lazima ina aswili kwa sababu kulla neno lina mwanzo wa usuli Ndipo 'kamba Kiswahili Ni lugha ya watu gani. Na iwapo hivi sivyo nilivyoamua hili nioneshani vilivyo mudhihirishe ukweli nijue ambavyo ndivyo tutoane mushikili ... Kifunuke Kiswahili ki lugha ya watu gani... Na iwapo atakuja wa kunijibu suali namuomba jambo moja twambiane kiakili tusionyane miuja ... jambo lisilokubali. Na nambie Kiswahili ni lugha ya watu gani? Tamati ndio ahiri jina langu ndilo hili ahamadi wa Nasiri na Bhalo ndilo la pili mtungaji mashuhuri mpenda msema kweli.

The Swahili Language Messenger, rise quickly, don't linger, don't dawdle, I have an errand for you, carry my question to the addressee so that I may receive a good answer, one that gives peace because it contains the truth: I ask, for what sort of people is Swahili the language? There are many languages in the world, pronounced in different ways, and all the languages on earth have people who belong to them, in a special place Not only in India, not only in Europe and America [but everywhere] has the Almighty created language. I ask... The Kamba have their own language which has been there since their genesis; and the British too [or the Europeans] have their own several languages; and the Meru people have their own, and the Somali are a different people again and so they have their own language. And which language is ours? The Indians have Hindi for various tribes, and for the Nandi there is the Nandi language, that is their own speech; and different again are the people of Usambara, they have their own original language. Tell me, for what sort of people is Swahili the language? Asking is not stupidity; do not think that my question is easy, I am searching for light, that we may shake the minds awake, that is why I made a poem in order to communicate this problem. Let it be explained to me, for what sort of people is the Swahili language? One often hears of this Swahili language, that there isn't anyone for whom it is his own language. And others argue that it does have original speakers [owners]. that is why I am saying, for what sort of people Is Swahili... The Masai has his home language ever since the beginning of Creation, and the people of the island of Socotra have theirs; the people of the Seychelles are different again; and the Nilotes have their languages, which are different from those of the Ragoli people. Tell me, for what sort of people... And all the others have different languages and some know the languages of their neighbors, which means studying a second language; but they still have their own languages ever since their origin. Tell me, for what sort of people... Now that which I am asking, from those who know this, the people of Kenya and Tanganyika and that means those who live everywhere, give me a true answer, let us not hide the truth from one another! Tell me, for what sort of people... I have thought a great deal to solve this problem, and I have realized that this language must have an origin; because every word has a beginning for its roots. So I say, for what sort of people is Swahili... And if this is not so, as I have solved it, show me how it is, make the truth clear, that I may know how it really is, that we may help each other out of the difficulty! May it be discovered for what sort of people is Swahili... And if there arrives a person who can solve my problem, I beg of him one thing: let us talk together in an intelligent manner, let us not show each other miracles [throw dust in each other's eyes] [by saying] something that is not acceptable. So tell me, for what sort of people is Swahili... Finish, this is the end, my name is as follows, Ahmad, son of Nassir, and Bhalo, that is my second surname, a famous poet, a lover and speaker of the truth.

by Ahmad Bhalo (Source)

Comments

[timeasmymeasure]

*hugs my language*

This was beautiful.
Thanks for sharing =)