Aabawo khaalekho,
yabawo baalebe be
muungo mutweela abe
babamenya nga
baasangaafu.
Once upon a time,
there lived a happy
family.
Abe sibasoolanakho ta.
Baayeetatsaka naabi
basaali baabwe
muungo ni mu
mikuunda.
They never fought with
each other. They helped
their parents at home
and in the fields.
Ne shonyene ndi abe
sibafukiilisibwakho
khukhwisyeendakho
aambi ni kumulilo ta.
But they were not
allowed to go near a
fire.
Abe bali ni
khuukholatsaka
kimilimo kyaabwe mu
shilo mwonyene.
Lwekhuuba baabuumbibwa khukhwaama
mu buwuula!
They had to do all their
work during the night.
Because they were made of wax!
Ne mutweela khu
basooleli abo
wewotooma naabi
khuutsyakho ibulafu mu
muumu.
But one of the boys
longed to go out in the
sunlight.
Ne lutweela
khukhwiwotooma
khuno khwaabiririra
naabi. Babaandaaye
baamureewura…
One day the longing
was too strong. His
brothers warned him…
Ne byaba byaabirire
khaale! Nga waamalile
khaale
khuuyengukhakila mu
muumu kukwaba
kwaabilile.
But it was too late!
He melted in the hot
sun.
Basooleli be buwuula
babaramile baawulila
kumutaambo,
khuubona nga
waandayaabwe
ayengukhaka awawo.
The wax children were
so sad to see their
brother melting away.
Ne baafunayo
shishambaaso
shishiindi. Baryo
baawumbaka buwuula
bubuyengukhakile
tsana,
baabuwumbamwo
khanywiinywi.
But they made a plan.
They shaped the lump
of melted wax into a
bird.
Baayila waandaayabwe
khanywiinywi tsana khu
lukiingi luleeyi naabi.
They took their bird
brother up to a high
mountain.
Nga inyaanga niyarura,
waapamburukha
waatsya nga eemba mu
buwaanga bwe
kumutikhinyi.
And as the sun rose, he
flew away singing into
the morning light.
