Kale-kale nthawi ina, kunali banja lina lokondwera.
Once upon a time,
there lived a happy
family.
Sanali kuyambana. Anali kuthandiza makolo ao panyumba ndi kumunda.
They never fought with
each other. They helped
their parents at home
and in the fields.
Koma sanaloredwe kupita pafupi ndi moto.
But they were not
allowed to go near a
fire.
Anali kucita nchito yonse usiku. Cifukwa anapandidwa ndi chikonga.
They had to do all their
work during the night.
Because they were made of wax!
Koma mnyamata umodzi anali kufunitsitsa kuyenda mdzuwa.
But one of the boys
longed to go out in the
sunlight.
Tsiku lina, kufunitsitsa kwake kunakula kwambiri. Abale ace anamucenjeza…
One day the longing
was too strong. His
brothers warned him…
Koma anacedwa! Anasungunuka mudzuwa lotentha kwambiri.
But it was too late!
He melted in the hot
sun.
Ana aphula sanakondwele poona m’bale wao asungunika.
The wax children were
so sad to see their
brother melting away.
Koma anapangana zocita. Anaumba kambalame kucoka kuphula wa m’bale wao.
But they made a plan.
They shaped the lump
of melted wax into a
bird.
Anapereka m’bale wao mbalame pamwamba pa phiri.
They took their bird
brother up to a high
mountain.
Pamene dzuwa inakwera, kambalame kanauluka ndikuimba m’dzuwa ya m’mamawa.
And as the sun rose, he
flew away singing into
the morning light.
