[The Porcupine Left Its Hovel]
The porcupine left its hovel
and sprinted into the sun
Along the way it shed needles
for sewing machines to run
It made us gossip and chuckle
but bellies shouldn’t be shunned
This knocking-knocking business–
three times a day, no warning
Let them take down a witness
if that’s their people’s calling
Deliver us, Lord, from taxes
all our houses have nothing
If you hear of litigation
within the same family
Be careful not to butt in
let’s steer clear of misery
The cow and the goat are kin
but the lamb is a refugee
I deign to be a magnet
ripping up forts stone by stone
Plus anyone with malice
whose eye won’t meet my own
A needle may be threaded
but still refuse to sew
My most amicable friend
I pose to you this question
So long, so long it has been
all year I’ve eaten nothing
Do you eat then wash your hands
or wash hands before eating?
The world is all despair
it only grows
Whoever you ensnare
don’t let her go
Or would you have a hare
hand you the bow?
The hand on the left
is not like the right
To see in a dream
is not a true sight
The fieriest flames
come when you incite
[Nungu Aliwata Shimo]
Nungu aliwata shimo
Kakimbilia juani
Kipita kiata miwa
Kushonewa zerehani
Tunganena tungateka
Matumbo hayezikani
Ni kupiga hodi hodi
Kila siku mara tatu
Waekeni mashahidi
Kama waekao watu
Mungu tusalimu kodi
Majumba hayana zitu
Mkiona masharia
Ya watu wao kwa wao
Tahadhari kuingia
Tulepuke shari lao
Ng’ombe na mbuzi wamoya
Mtu mbali ni kondoo
Kuwa simaku siizi
Kuyararua magome
Kwa kulla alohasidi
Kwa ito asinione
Sindano huwa na uzi
Na kushona isishone
Sahiba mwenye muruwa
Nakuuliza suala
Imekuwa imekuwa
Yapata mwaka siyala
Mtu hula akanawa
Au hunawa akala
Ulimwengu una tata
Siikuwe
Ambao wamkamata
Simtowe
Amekushikisha uta
Kitunguwe
Mkono wa shoto
Si kama kulia
Kuona kwa ndoto
Si kushuhudia
Ukali wa moto
Ni kuutotea
