Meri Simbu

BY JIMMY DREKORE

An entry in The Crocodile Prize

Meri Simbu,
taim yu smile
Yu save katim
lewa ya

Meri Simbu,
taim yu lukluk
Mi save melt
nating ya

Meri Simbu,
taim yu toktok
Mi save krol ya

smile blong yu ya
lukluk blong yu ya
toktok blong yu ya

Yu no save
mi dai isi isi stap

Sapos wanpla taim
yu holim hand blong mi
Yu mas save
bai mi lusim displa graun

__________________

Chimbu woman
When you smile
It’s enough to pierce
My soul

Chimbu woman
When you look at me
It’s enough to dissolve me
Into nothing

Chimbu woman
When you talk to me
I sink to my knees

your smile
your look
your voice

You don’t know
How easily I would die

If you should ever
Hold my hand
You must know
I will be in heaven

Translation by Keith Jackson

Comments

[Justin Friend]

Keith - I am curious as to why you chose to use "Chimbu" as the translation of Simbu. I realise you old timers (respectfully) know the place as Chimbu, but the place is correctly today named Simbu. So why translate with the "old" name that many from Simbu see as a "mistake" of the past? Cheers mate.
____________

You're right, Justin. Just a case of Old Timers' Disease. Simbu is certainly the correct spelling today in both Tok Pisin and English - KJ