Khale lialikho litaala
elala eliabandu bali
nibamwenya
mubusangafu.
Once upon a time,
there lived a happy
family.
Shibakhupanangakho
tawe. Bakhonyanga
abebusi babu hango
nende mumukunda.
They never fought with
each other. They helped
their parents at home
and in the fields.
Ne shibafuchirirungwa
okhusuta hambi no
muliro tawe.
But they were not
allowed to go near a
fire.
Bakholanga mirimo
chiabu chiosi mushiro.
Okhubera bali nibalongwa okhurula khu iula!
They had to do all their
work during the night.
Because they were made of wax!
Ne mulala khu basiani
yekomba okhutsia
okhwora omubasu.
But one of the boys
longed to go out in the
sunlight.
Inyanga ndala,
yekomba muno muno
okhukhola ario.
Abasiani babu
nibamukaya.
One day the longing
was too strong. His
brothers warned him…
Ne bachelewa!
Yasalulukha mumubasu.
But it was too late!
He melted in the hot
sun.
Abaana be iula
baberera muno muno,
olwabalola owashiabwe
nasalulukha mulimba.
The wax children were
so sad to see their
brother melting away.
Nibakasia liparo.
Nibalonga liyoni
okhurula khu iula yali
niyisalulushe.
But they made a plan.
They shaped the lump
of melted wax into a
bird.
Nibabukula omusiani
wabu weliyoni,
nibamuira khu shikulu
eshirambi.
They took their bird
brother up to a high
mountain.
Ne olwa elimba liarula,
napurukha hekulu
niyemba mubulafu bwe
itsuli.
And as the sun rose, he
flew away singing into
the morning light.
