Lola lumwe, kwatwamine chisaka chakuwahilila.
Once upon a time,
there lived a happy
family.
Kavazungile wumwe namukwavoko. vakafwile visemi javo hembo nakumande.
They never fought with
each other. They helped
their parents at home
and in the fields.
Wunonyi kavavetavijile kuya kakwamwihi nakakahyako.
But they were not
allowed to go near a
fire.
Shikaho vazachilenga milimo yavo nawufuko kaha. momo vapwile vakupangisa ndunda.
They had to do all their
work during the night.
Because they were made of wax!
Unonyi mwana lunga wumwe asakwile kuya hamusana.
But one of the boys
longed to go out in the
sunlight.
Likumbi limwe kusakisa kuya hamusana chakolele chikuma. vayayenyi vamulwekele nkanda mwaya hamusanako.
One day the longing
was too strong. His
brothers warned him…
Wunonyi lola lwahichile! mwana lunga ayengunukile mumu sana wuzuma.
But it was too late!
He melted in the hot
sun.
Vana va ndunda vapihilile chikuma hakumona songo yavo walunga kuyengunuka.
The wax children were
so sad to see their
brother melting away.
Wunonyi vashinganyekele vyakulinga. vapangile ndunda yayengunukile muli kajila.
But they made a plan.
They shaped the lump
of melted wax into a
bird.
Vatwalile yayavo wakajila kuma pili.
They took their bird
brother up to a high
mountain.
Omu musana wejile. ambululukile nakwimba mumu sana wachimene.
And as the sun rose, he
flew away singing into
the morning light.
