Tafsiri ya "Nyang'au," Shairi la Haji Gora Haji

Kwa siku kadhaa sasa, nimekuwa nikisoma Kimbunga, kitabu cha mashairi ya Haji Gora Haji wa Zanzibar. Sambamba na kusoma, nimevutiwa na wazo la kujaribu kuyatafsiri baadhi. Nimeshatafsiri shairi la "Kimbunga." Leo nimeona nitafsiri "Nyang'au." Ni shairi linalohusiana na fasihi simulizi, kama yalivyo mashairi na maandishi mengine kadhaa ya Haji Gora Haji. Kwa kuwawezesha wasomaji wa ki-Ingereza kuonja utunzi wa Haji Gora Haji, ninategemea kuchangia kumtangaza ulimwenguni mshairi huyu mahiri. Anastahili kuenziwa kwa kila namna.

Yeyote anayekijua ki-Swahili vizuri, na pia ki-Ingereza, atajionea ugumu wa mtihani niliojipa wa kutafsiri shairi hili. Ingawa nimejitahidi sana, siwezi kusema ninaridhika na tafsiri yangu. Jaribu nawe kulitafsiri shairi hili, upate maumivu ya kichwa, na pia raha ukifanikiwa.

                              
                               Nyang'au

1.        Fisi alikichakani, mtu kapita haraka
          Kwa vile yuko mbiyoni, mkono unakwepuka
          Ndipo akatumaini, karibu ya kuanguka
          Mate yakimdondoka, kwa tamaa ya mkono

2.       Kayanowa yake meno, tayari na kujiweka
          Ukidondoka mkono, afike na kuudaka
          Ajipatie vinono, ale na kufaidika
          Mate yakimdondoka, kwa tamaa ya mkono

3.       Kafata huku na kule, hakuwa mwenye kuchoka
          Fisi nyuma mtu mbele, endako ajipeleka
          Kungoja mkono ule, apate kunufaika
          Mate yakimdondoka, kwa tamaa ya mkono

4.       Hakujuwa kama vile, mkono kupeperuka
          Ndiyo yake maumbile, si kwa kuwa wakwanyuka
          Kafatia vile vile, kwa tamaa kumshika
          Mate yakimdondoka, kwa tamaa ya mkono

5.        Yule anayemfata, anakokwenda kafika
          Ndoto aliyoiota, ikakosa uhakika
          Mkono hakuupata, bure alihangaika
          Majuto yakamfika, hakuupata mkono


                                The Hyena

1.        The hyena was in the bush, when a man hurried past
          Speeding as he was, his arm flagged about
          Raising the hyena's hopes that soon it would fall off
          He kept salivating, hungering for the arm

2.        He sharpened his teeth, positioning himself properly
          So that when the arm fell off, he should promptly catch it
          And enjoy a tasty treat, eating to satisfaction
          He kept salivating, hungering for the arm

3.        He followed hither and thither, not one to tire of striving
          Coming behind with the man ahead, the hyena trailed the man
          Waiting for that arm, hoping to feast on it
          He kept salivating, hungering for the arm

4.        Little did he know, that for the arm to flap about
          Was its natural wont, no harbinger of dismemberment
          He nevertheless kept following, choking with desire
          He kept salivating, hungering for the arm

5.        The one he was following, reached his destination
          The dream he had been dreaming, ended in uncertainty
          The arm he failed to get, in vain had he striven
          Deep regrets assailed him, for failing to get the arm.