Malsawmi Jacob, Mizo poem in translation

Mizo poem and translation

 Malsawmi Jacob

Pi Hmuaki

(Pi Hmuaki was the first Mizo song composer known by name. She was buried alive, supposedly for composing so many songs that the villagers were afraid the coming generations would have nothing more to compose. The version given here is the present poet’s interpretation)

They couldn’t stand your prophetic voice

that spoke against their misdeeds

as night after night you sang your songs

in your lonely hut

Your gong music enchanted them

melody drove them wild

but the lyrics did the mischief – 

the lyrics pierced their hearts.

The heroes loved their exploits

heads and loots won in raids

killing was the way to live

to attain the honoured place in pialral

You derided their philosophy

wouldn’t sing their eulogy

after a successful raid,

tried to stop them dating lasi    

told them to choose tlangsam over kangthai

Their annoyance grew day by day,

decided to silence you altogether

Shut you out from golden sunlight

wind and call of chuk-chu-ri-kur.

Your gong still rings under the earth

Bong! Bong!

A disturbance in tyrants’ ears.

 Note: 1.The place where the spirits of dead people were believed to go. ‘Heroes’ who had slain many enemies and animals were supposed to receive a special treatment there.

2. Wood nymphs who helped men they fell in love with to shoot many animals.

3. A plant used for healing wounds.

4.Nettle 

5.Spotted dove

Pi Hmuaki (Mizo language)

Malsawmi Jacob

 

An tuar hlel maw i ânka chhuak 

an thawh sual hâi lang tu! 

I rûn riangah zantin mal te’n 

zâitin i sak lai khân 

i dâr ri mâwi an ngâi ning lo 

i zâihla mâwi an ti. 

Mahse i thûhlâ in lung a dêng 

an thinlairil a khei. 

Ramvachal vâl mihrâng rualin 

dorâl rêl an lungkham, 

rallâk rosum leh milu hawn 

an duhsâm ber lo ni. 

Chengrâng an châwi, chemsen an lek 

pialrâl ngûrnun chan nân. 

An fin i nuihsan, râl rêl i dem 

bawhhla i dêu, lasi zâwl i sêl 

kângṭhâi hnâwla tlângsâm chelek i rawt. 

An thin a sâ, ha chang an ṭhial 

i kâ hup hlen an rêl thlu ta. 

An khârkhip che ni êng lakah 

thlifîm leh chuk-chu-ri-kûrh âw nên. 

Leithuah hnuâiah i dâr a la ri 

Beng! Beng! 

Nunrâwng lungmâwl zilh nân.