Kaindi, kwakali mukwasyi wakali kukkala cakukkomana.
Once upon a time,
there lived a happy
family.
Tiibakali kulwana pe. Bakali kugwasya bazyali aŋanda akumuunda.
They never fought with
each other. They helped
their parents at home
and in the fields.
Pesi tiibakali kuzuminzyigwa kuswena munsi-munsi amulilo.
But they were not
allowed to go near a
fire.
Bakali kubeleka milimo yoonse masiku. Nkaambo bakabambidwe aabunzuka.
They had to do all their
work during the night.
Because they were made of wax!
Pesi umwi wabasankwa wakayandisisya kuti aunke muzuba.
But one of the boys
longed to go out in the
sunlight.
Bumwi buzuba kuyandisisya kwakakomena. Bapati bakwe basankwa bakamucenjezya…
One day the longing
was too strong. His
brothers warned him…
Pesi bakaccelwa. Wakeenzemuka muzuba lipya.
But it was too late!
He melted in the hot
sun.
Bana babunzuka bakausa kapati kubona mupati wabo kaenzemuka.
The wax children were
so sad to see their
brother melting away.
Pesi bakajana muzeezo. Bakabweza bunzuka bwakeenzemuka akubumba ciyuni.
But they made a plan.
They shaped the lump
of melted wax into a
bird.
Bakabikka cibumbwa atala amulundu.
They took their bird
brother up to a high
mountain.
Nilyakazwa zuba, wakauluka kaimba nyimbo mumumuni wamafwumo-fwumo.
And as the sun rose, he
flew away singing into
the morning light.
