Kutafsiri kazi ya fasihi ni kazi ngumu ya kuchemsha bongo. Inahitaji ufahamu wa hali ya juu wa lugha husika, na pia hisia makini za kifasihi. Tofauti na inavyoeleweka katika jamii, kutafsiri ni suala pana kuliko kuwasilisha ujumbe kutoka lugha moja kwenda lugha nyingine, bali ni kutunga upya kazi ya fasihi inayotafsiriwa. Hili suala linajadiliwa sana na wataalam wa lugha, fasihi, na falsafa. Pamoja na matatizo yote, ninapenda kuchemsha akili yangu kwa kutafsiri kazi za fasihi. Kwa mfano, nimetafsiri hadithi za ki-Matengo, na shairi la Mama Mkatoliki.
Hapa naleta shairi la Haji Gora Haji, mshairi maarufu wa Zanzibar, ambaye niliwahi kukutana naye. Shairi hilo ni "Kimbunga" ambalo limo katika kitabu chake kiitwacho Kimbunga. Jisomee shairi hilo na ujionee nilivyopambana na lugha katika kutafsiri. Ni mapambano, na kuna wakati unajikuta umepigwa butwaa au mwereka.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kimbunga
1. Kimbunga mji wa Siyu, kilichowahi kufika
Si kwa yule wala huyu, ilikuwa patashika
Kimeing'owa mibuyu, minazi kunusurika
Nyoyo zilifadhaika.
2. Yalizuka majabali, yakabirukabiruka
Zikadidimia meli, ngarawa zikaokoka
Kimbunga hicho kikali, mavumbi hayakuruka
Nyoyo zilifadhaika.
3. Nyumba kubwa za ghorofa, siku hiyo zimeruka
Zikenenda kwa masafa, kufikia kwa kufika
Vibanda vyao malofa, vyote vikasalimika
Nyoyo zikafadhaika.
4. Chura kakausha mto, maji yakamalizika
Pwani kulikuwa moto, mawimbi yaliyowaka
Usufi nusu kipeto, rikwama limevunjika
Nyoyo zikafadhaika.
5. Kuna kikongwe ajuza, viumbe kimewateka
Hicho kinamiujiza, kila rangi hugeuka
Wataokiendekeza, hilaki zitawafika
Nyoyo zikafadhaika.
A Hurricane
1. A hurricane once arrived in Siyu town
Sparing neither that one nor this one, it was sheer mayhem
It uprooted babobab trees, the coconut trees surviving
Hearts went panicking.
2. Big rocks turned up, tumbling over and over
Ships were sinking, while mere boats survived
Fearsome as the hurricane was, it raised no dust
Hearts went panicking
3. Great storied houses were blown away that day
They flew quite a distance, landing wherever they landed
The huts of the lowly, all survived intact
And hearts went panicking
4. The frog drained the river, the water all dried up
On the shore was conflagration, of the waves flaming
Half a container of kapok, broke the coolie's cart
And hearts went panicking
5. A wizened hag there was, who held beings captive
She is given to magical powers, changing hues at will
Those who let her be, perdition will be their lot
And hearts will go panicking.
