Yo ki Palisa. Lebizo la hae litalusa “mapalisa” mwa Silozi.
This is Khalai. She is seven years old. Her name means ‘the good one’ in her language, Lubukusu.
Kakusasana Palisa ubulelisa kota ya olenji. “Kota tuwe nikupa kuli unife ma olenji amañata.”
Khalai wakes up and talks to the orange tree. “Please orange tree, grow big and give us lots of ripe oranges.”
Palisa aya kwa sikolo. Mwa nzila abulela kwa bucwani, “Nikupa kuli uhuli ka butala hape usike uaoma.”
Khalai walks to school. On the way she talks to the grass. “Please grass, grow greener and don’t dry up.”
Palisa afita mwala mapalisa amwa mushitu. “Mina mapalisa, ni itumela kumina kamibala yeminde-nde-nde.”
Khalai passes wild flowers. “Please flowers, keep blooming so I can put you in my hair.”
Ali kwa sikolo, Palisa abulela kwa kakotana ali, “Kota tuwe uhule nimitahi yemituna kuli lunobalelanga mwa muluti wahao.”
At school, Khalai talks to the tree in the middle of the compound. “Please tree, put out big branches so we can read under your shade.”
Ali kwa sikoli Palisa abulela kwa kakotana ali.
Khalai talks to the hedge around her school. “Please grow strong and stop bad people from coming in.”
Palisa akutela kwa hae, apotela kota la olenji.
When Khalai returns home from school, she visits the orange tree. “Are your oranges ripe yet?” asks Khalai.
“Ma olenji yasali butala”, aikomokela Palisa. “Nikataha kamuso kakusasana mwendi nikatofumana ma olenji abuzwize!”
“The oranges are still green,” sighs Khalai. “I will see you tomorrow orange tree,” says Khalai. “Perhaps then you will have a ripe orange for me!”
