The archive
Love Poetry
Love Poetry
Traditional Tiv Poetry · 1982
TIV
Auna Wondo
Uir awa wondo akpa ateratar
sha chi ukari mbaior a hideo
Anengen aminoo
Mva me mo sugh
John Papa vihi amo shie wese
Alu me ma zeva yo
Me unde dela or me pase lecture
Or mom nana or kwagh zeo
Alu sha shember ga
kuma ior yor amo kaa nanoo
Adoo Nyiban Tsue wangomo
Ainge mba sughun mo ga
ENGLISH
He has styled his trousers
the black one has fixed his trousers
six pockets, for the marked one of
Mbaior to return and be seeing it.
I’ve come to greet John Papa
who has spoilt me for some time now.
If I drink alcohol, I’ll climb on
fair-complexioned man and deliver
a lecture. Nobody should comment
because it won’t be right.
People are fed up with me – what say you
beautiful Nyibam Tsue, my sister
Nowadays, they don’t greet me.
EDITOR’S NOTE
First published in Nigeria Magazine, Friday, January 1, 1982.
Source: Archiving.