Kudala, kwakuhlala
usapho olonwabileyo.
Once upon a time,
there lived a happy
family.
Abazange balwe omnye
nomnye. Babebanceda
abazali babo ekhaya
nasemasimini.
They never fought with
each other. They helped
their parents at home
and in the fields.
Kodwa babengavumelekanga ukuba
basondele emlilweni.
But they were not
allowed to go near a
fire.
Kwakufuneka benze
wonke umsebenzi wabo
ebusuku.
Kuba babenziwe ngekhandlela!
They had to do all their
work during the night.
Because they were made of wax!
kodwa omnye
wamakhwenkwe
wayelangazelela
ukuphuma phandle
elangeni.
But one of the boys
longed to go out in the
sunlight.
Ngenye imini
ulangazelelo lwakhula
ngamandla.
Abantakwabo
bamlumkisa…
One day the longing
was too strong. His
brothers warned him…
k Ngenye imini
ulangazelelo lwakhula
ngamandla.
Abantakwabo
bamlumkisa…
But it was too late!
He melted in the hot
sun.
Abantwana
bekhandlela baba lusizi
kakhulu ukubona
untakwabo enyibilike
waphela.
The wax children were
so sad to see their
brother melting away.
Kodwa, benza icebo.
Babumba igaqa
lekhalindlela laba
yintaka.
But they made a plan.
They shaped the lump
of melted wax into a
bird.
Bathatha umntakwabo
oyintaka, bamsa phezu
kwentaba
ephakamileyo.
They took their bird
brother up to a high
mountain.
Njengoko ilanga
liphuma, wabhabhela
kude evuma
kukukhanya kwakusasa.
And as the sun rose, he
flew away singing into
the morning light.
