Tsiku lina, kunali banja lina lokondwera.
Once upon a time,
there lived a happy
family.
Sanali kuyambana. Anali kuthandizila makolo ao panyumba ndi kumunda.
They never fought with
each other. They helped
their parents at home
and in the fields.
Koma sanaloledwe kuyenda pafupi ndi moto.
But they were not
allowed to go near a
fire.
Anali kucita nchito iliyonse usiku. Cifukwa anapandidwa ndi chikonga (wax).
They had to do all their
work during the night.
Because they were made of wax!
Koma munyamata umodzi anali kufunisitsa kuyenda muzuwa.
But one of the boys
longed to go out in the
sunlight.
Tsiku lina, kufunisitsa kwake kunayenda pasogolo. Abale ace anamucenjeza…
One day the longing
was too strong. His
brothers warned him…
Koma anacedwa! Anasungunuka muzuwa lakupya kwambiri.
But it was too late!
He melted in the hot
sun.
Ana achikonga sanakondwele poona m’bale wao asungunika.
The wax children were
so sad to see their
brother melting away.
Koma anapangana zocita. Anapanga kanyoni kucoka ku cikonga ca m’bale wao.
But they made a plan.
They shaped the lump
of melted wax into a
bird.
Anapeleka kanyoni m’bale wao pamwamba pa phiri.
They took their bird
brother up to a high
mountain.
Pamene zuwa linacoka, kanyoni kanambululuka nakuimba m’mamawa mu zuwa.
And as the sun rose, he
flew away singing into
the morning light.
