Adelaide Centre

The Poem

In Adnyamathanha

Warlda

Ngatyu wanngipi yulupa ipi ikaninha

Utanha ngukandyu warlda ankada
Warldanga ngatyu yulkuaka virdniindha
Anhaimpi ngatyu ngawarla wapininha virdniindha
Anhaimpi ngatyu maarni virdniranggu
Ngalka ngadlapangarindhanha upi urlanyinga

Warldanga, yurndunga ambaambatha yakingandha ilhimandha
Alkaingandha vani idana ngatyu mingga ngunindha
Warldanga varru marngiku akanandha upi yaldhatyinha ngarlda awingurni
Utyu yartathadi vandyavarandyadna
Warldanga yarta idindha, awi urlanyi vudingarindha muka watya
Ngawarla vipaapinha utyu ildaniku, nangga idla anggatha nunggununggutha virdniinanhamatharu

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Translated to Adnyamathanha by Lily Neville. Adnyamathanha is the language and culture of the Flinders Ranges in South Australia. It has around 20 fluent living speakers. Lily Neville worked from the English translation by Chip Rolley.

In Ngarrindjeri

Lowaldi

Shi Tao

Nganawi mi:wi tambiwalun kaldau
No:wai nga:wun lowaldi
Nganawi ngeli ponun lowald-angk
Nangg-angk nganawi kaldi ponun
Nangg-angk nganawi napi ponun
Kru:wi ngruwar tunkur-kald
Lowaldi nanggi kurlkun nalun
Katjil yriyun nganawi mo:katar
Lowaldi ma:mi wrukun kru:wi yarli-nendi
Kitjur ru:w-ungai tantur-ambi
Lowaldi ru:wi kundelun, tapatawi pingkun, ngunkun
Yo:rlar pokoramun, no:wai kar pempani pornbornar-ungai

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Translated to Ngarrindjeri by Auntie Eileen McHughes of Murray Bridge, South Australia.

The Ngarrindjeri language belongs to the 18 Lakinyerar (clans) of the Lower Murray, Lakes and Coorong region of southern South Australia. Each clan had a different dialect that was passed down from generation to generation.

The Ngarrindjeri language has not been spoken fluently for many years and is in the process of being revived.

"Today we are reviving the language that was given to us by our older generation," says Auntie Eileen McHughes. "We are learning to give speeches, teaching the words in kindergartens, schools and creches, and writing songs and poems."

"Lowaldi" means summer.

In Polish

Czerwiec

Shi Tao

Moje całe życie
Nigdy nie zdoła przejść przez “Czerwiec”
Czerwiec, w którym umarło moje serce
Umarły moje wiersze
Umarło kochanie
W basenie romansu krwi
Czerwiec, skwarne słońce tnie moją skórę
Odsłania prawdziwe oblicze mej rany
Czerwiec, z morza czerwieni krwi płyną ryby
Do miejsca przetrwania
W czerwcu, zmienia położenie Ziemia, rzeki milkną
Nie dotrą do umarłych stosy listów

 Listen to the poem

Translated to Polish by Teresa Podemska.

Teresa Podemska – Abt, a philologist, writer and a poet, as well as a translator, sociologist of education, and a critic of literature. At present, Teresa researches Indigenous Literature’s translatability into another language and culture and is affiliated with David Unaipon College of Indigenous Education & Research at University of South Australia. Her most recent books are: the collection of poems Żywe Sny (Dreams Alive), 2001, Anthology of Indigenous literature, 2003, and Spoza Raju (From beyond Paradise), 2000. Teresa’s poetry and her commentary on W. Szymborska were presented by ABC’s Poetica. Her poems were performed by actors in Nexus, Pilgrim Centre and Royal Art Society, Adelaide. Also, they constituted scripts for poetic performances in Adelaide and Europe: Poland, Germany and France.

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