- Ruina 1 [Home Sweet Home]
Sirbidornan | Servants, |
asta di mas fiel | the most faithful even, |
a hisa bela. | have departed. |
Kangreu | The Crab, |
a kana drenta sala | walked into the parlour |
subi stul di zoya | and sat down |
di oríhen outéntiko | in the rocking chair |
garantisá. | of guaranteed |
authentic origin. | |
E Oloshi su bònèchi | |
a bira tur di duars, | The Clock’s party hat |
di skeins, | has settled |
di kahon; | in a lopsided position |
den nos kara. | as though the fun |
is yet to start; | |
Komehein | at our expense, |
ta den su hehehe. | ever, at our expense. |
Makaku babun | The termites |
ta atmirá su kurpa | are having a ball. |
den spil rant di oro | |
ku angelitunan sunú; | The Baboon |
si preis ta bon, | admires himself |
ta bai ku tur. | in the mirror |
with the golden frame | |
Bofon, kuminsá bo pela djente numa, | and the chubby cherubs; |
pasó esaki sí ta prèt. | if reasonably priced, |
Na muraya tur na yaga | he’ll take them all. |
un kuadro | |
a keda ta kologá, rogando: | On the oozing wall, |
Dios bendiga nuestro hogar. | Absurdity, Humor’s envoy, |
grins from ear to ear, | |
E! shon Bida! | as a tattered sampler pleads: |
Bo sa kiko? | |
God, bless our home. Oh Lordy, Lordy, | |
Si no ta pasobra | Lordy mine! |
mi n’ por stòp di yora, | Could I but stop crying, |
lo mi a hari | I’d laugh my head |
te rementá! | right off! |
[Papiamentu] |
[End Page 560]
Nydia Ecury, born in Aruba, has lived in Curaçao since 1957 where she has taught English. An actress, poet and translator, she has published five collections of Papiamentu poetry, one of which is in both Papiamentu and English, and has translated children’s books into Papiamentu for use in the public schools. Her translations into Papiamentu of plays by Goldoni, Alfonso Paso, Tennessee Williams, Jean Genet, and Shakespeare have contributed to the development of Papiamentu as a literary language. She has received numerous awards, including the 1996 Chapi di Plata literary prize from the Pierre Lauffer Foundation.
Footnotes
1. Kantika pa Mama Tera/Song for Mother Earth (Curaçao: Intergrafia, 1984), 3.