Нгвембе Ронга на английском
В переводах haallan@lj

Первая часть (1-2) - здесь.
Вторая часть (3-6) - здесь.
Третья часть (7-9) - здесь.
Четвертая часть (10-14) - здесь.
Пятая часть (15-18) - здесь.




девятнадцать

to see a panther-man
you should go far into the jungle
to see the mighty mambo
you should go back to your tribe
to see the white people's wonders
you should travel to the big city
to see your own double
you should bend over the water
to see you
I should only close my eyes


двадцать

oh yes
you have no use on earth for them
you have no need for them
they strike you as rather silly
our masks
I do understand that

when we dance with the demons
We hide our faces
we put our masks on
put our terrible masks on
put our nasty masks on
to go for insiders that way

oh yes
you have no use on earth for them
you have no need for them
they strike you as rather silly
our masks
I do understand that


двадцать один

you imagine your lips
will touch no man's fingers
you imagine your breasts
will fall into no man's palms
you imagine your ecstasy
will leap into no man's arms

dear girl
it's good you don't know
how much my hands hurt


двадцать два

if there were enemies
I could fight them
if there were mountains and rivers
I could travel light
if there were jewels and gold
I could made a pile of them at your feet
a pile of great queens' riches

but the raised shoulder
the surprised look
the calm smile

I don't know what to do


двадцать три

they showed me the great and beautiful land
on the map
they said that's Africa
that's your Africa

they read out loud
the wonderful and fair laws
they said that's the country
that's your country

they kicked me out of the hut
they said that's not yours


двадцать четыре - двадцать шесть

I keep silent
I'm afraid to break the embrace
you are anxious
looking back to the house
whispering uneasily
they'll set the dogs loose soon
I must run now they'll miss me
you must run now too they'll miss you
we've got to wake up early tomorrow
so much work to do

I keep silent
I'm afraid to break the embrace
we won't see each other again
for today


when it becomes too much
to stay cheerful
to merely dream about you
I paint your name on the ground
and smile at it


out of my hands fall in the basket
the coffee beans

I know what next
they'll take them to the factory
they'll peel the flesh
they'll grind them off and they'll roast them
they'll put the smooth leaves in

I know what next
you'll fix breakfast for the master
mill the handful of beans
drop it in boiling water
fill the small white cup
with the thick black drink

and to test
if it was too hot
you'll touch it with your lips

out of my hands fall in the basket
the coffee beans
I don't know what next


двадцать семь

the road moves on
and we stay behind
nine of us yesterday
and three of us today by now
the road moves on
and we stay behind
and wherever it may lead
we travel
further on


двадцать восемь

and sometimes
the same whip
strikes off the coffee bean
right from the branch
as if playing
the very good lash
just with the tip of it

and then we cry with delight


двадцать девять

brother said the music
is like your heart is eager to go into the sky
right through your throat
is like your body burning away
bursting out with sparks
is like nothing is there anymore
only the music is

I told him
about you