Kaindi, kwakali mukwashi wakali kukala cakukomana.
Once upon a time,
there lived a happy
family.
Patile akantu, kwali ulupwa ulwaleikala ulwasansamuka.
Tibakali kulwana pe. Bakali kugwasha bazyali ang’anda akumunda.
They never fought with
each other. They helped
their parents at home
and in the fields.
Tabatalile abalwa bekabeka. Baleyafwa abafyashi babo pa ng’anda na mu ibala.
Pesi tibakali kuzumizyigwa kuswena munsi amulilo.
But they were not
allowed to go near a
fire.
Lelo tabasuminishiwe ukupalama ku mulilo.
Bakali kujata ncito zyonse masiku. Nkambo bakali pangidwe abunzuka.
They had to do all their
work during the night.
Because they were made of wax!
Balebomba imilimo yabo yonse ubushiku. Pantu bapangilwe na ipula.
Pesi umwi wabasankwa wakalikuyandishisha kuti aunke muzuba.
But one of the boys
longed to go out in the
sunlight.
Lelo umulumendo umo alifulwike ukuya panse mu kasuba.
Bumwi buzuba kuyandishisha kwakakomena. Bakulana bakwe bakamucenjezya …
One day the longing
was too strong. His
brothers warned him…
Bushiku bumo ukufuluka kwalicililemo. Ba ndume yakwe balimucengeshe.
Pesi bakacelwa. Wakasungunuka muzuba ipya.
But it was too late!
He melted in the hot
sun.
Lelo inshita yalipitile kale. Alisungulwike mu kasuba akakaba.
Bana babunzuka bakausa kapati kubona mukulana wabo kasungunuka.
The wax children were
so sad to see their
brother melting away.
Abana ba ipula bali ababulanda pakumona uko ndume yabo alesunguluka.
Pesi bakajana nzila. Bakabweza bunzuka bwakasungunuka akubumba ciyuni.
But they made a plan.
They shaped the lump
of melted wax into a
bird.
Lelo balyumfwene. Balipangile icuuni ukufuma ku ipula ilya sungulwike.
Bakabika cibumbwa atala amulundu.
They took their bird
brother up to a high
mountain.
Balisendele ndume yabo mu cuuni pa mulu walupili ulutali.
Niyakazwa Izuba, wakauluka kaimba nyimbo mumuumuni wamafumofumo.
And as the sun rose, he
flew away singing into
the morning light.
Elyo lintu akasuba katulile, alipupwike aleimba mu cengelo ca lucelo.
