Gedicht
Rabison Shumba
KNOW THE DIFFERENCE
Arguing and quarreling are two different things
wisdom and irrationality have marked differences
screams and scuffles are worlds apart
commotion and clarification are distinct
there is a difference between arrogance and presumptuousness
love and jealousy are totally different
if you know the difference your life will have direction
Our failure to see the differences
has caused us to go astray
you will transpose this with that
and exchange that with this
you will mistake a snake for a walking stick
and drink poison, hoping to quench your thirst
if you know the difference then life is bliss
Know the difference between scorn and a smile
discern the thin line between contentment and frustration
be careful to know what builds and what destroys
know what to buy and what to have for free
separate what’s gratifying and what’s agonising
know what is sweet and what is sour
if you know the difference then we know you have got it together
wisdom and irrationality have marked differences
screams and scuffles are worlds apart
commotion and clarification are distinct
there is a difference between arrogance and presumptuousness
love and jealousy are totally different
if you know the difference your life will have direction
Our failure to see the differences
has caused us to go astray
you will transpose this with that
and exchange that with this
you will mistake a snake for a walking stick
and drink poison, hoping to quench your thirst
if you know the difference then life is bliss
Know the difference between scorn and a smile
discern the thin line between contentment and frustration
be careful to know what builds and what destroys
know what to buy and what to have for free
separate what’s gratifying and what’s agonising
know what is sweet and what is sour
if you know the difference then we know you have got it together
© Translation: 2014, Rabison Shumba
ZIVA SIYANO
ZIVA SIYANO
Ruzha nemhirizhonga zvinhu zvakasiyana
kungwara nengwarangwanduka zvakatopesana
panezve siyano pakati pemhere nemhere-mhere
bopoto ne tsanangudzo hazvina kumbofanana
panosiyanazve kubhabhauka nekuita bapu
kuchengera ne rudo zvinhu zvakaparadzana
ukaziva siyano, unorarama zvine gwara
Kutadza kuona musiyano wezvinhu
ndiko kwaita kuti tipinde musango
uchafunga kuti ichi ndicho icho
wotora icho woti ndicho ichi
ndipo pauchatora nyoka woti itsvimbo
wotora muchetura kuti upedze nyota
waziva musiyano, upenyu mutserendende
Ziva musiyano wokusekwa nekusekererwa
woziva panofarwa nepane kutsutsumwa
ngwarira kuziva chinovaka nechinoputsa
woziva chekutenga nechemahara
patsanura zvinofadza nezvinorwadza
Woziva zvinotapira nezvinodunga
waziva musiyano, wazorengeka zvino
kungwara nengwarangwanduka zvakatopesana
panezve siyano pakati pemhere nemhere-mhere
bopoto ne tsanangudzo hazvina kumbofanana
panosiyanazve kubhabhauka nekuita bapu
kuchengera ne rudo zvinhu zvakaparadzana
ukaziva siyano, unorarama zvine gwara
Kutadza kuona musiyano wezvinhu
ndiko kwaita kuti tipinde musango
uchafunga kuti ichi ndicho icho
wotora icho woti ndicho ichi
ndipo pauchatora nyoka woti itsvimbo
wotora muchetura kuti upedze nyota
waziva musiyano, upenyu mutserendende
Ziva musiyano wokusekwa nekusekererwa
woziva panofarwa nepane kutsutsumwa
ngwarira kuziva chinovaka nechinoputsa
woziva chekutenga nechemahara
patsanura zvinofadza nezvinorwadza
Woziva zvinotapira nezvinodunga
waziva musiyano, wazorengeka zvino
© 2014, Rabison Shumba
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ZIVA SIYANO
Ruzha nemhirizhonga zvinhu zvakasiyana
kungwara nengwarangwanduka zvakatopesana
panezve siyano pakati pemhere nemhere-mhere
bopoto ne tsanangudzo hazvina kumbofanana
panosiyanazve kubhabhauka nekuita bapu
kuchengera ne rudo zvinhu zvakaparadzana
ukaziva siyano, unorarama zvine gwara
Kutadza kuona musiyano wezvinhu
ndiko kwaita kuti tipinde musango
uchafunga kuti ichi ndicho icho
wotora icho woti ndicho ichi
ndipo pauchatora nyoka woti itsvimbo
wotora muchetura kuti upedze nyota
waziva musiyano, upenyu mutserendende
Ziva musiyano wokusekwa nekusekererwa
woziva panofarwa nepane kutsutsumwa
ngwarira kuziva chinovaka nechinoputsa
woziva chekutenga nechemahara
patsanura zvinofadza nezvinorwadza
Woziva zvinotapira nezvinodunga
waziva musiyano, wazorengeka zvino
kungwara nengwarangwanduka zvakatopesana
panezve siyano pakati pemhere nemhere-mhere
bopoto ne tsanangudzo hazvina kumbofanana
panosiyanazve kubhabhauka nekuita bapu
kuchengera ne rudo zvinhu zvakaparadzana
ukaziva siyano, unorarama zvine gwara
Kutadza kuona musiyano wezvinhu
ndiko kwaita kuti tipinde musango
uchafunga kuti ichi ndicho icho
wotora icho woti ndicho ichi
ndipo pauchatora nyoka woti itsvimbo
wotora muchetura kuti upedze nyota
waziva musiyano, upenyu mutserendende
Ziva musiyano wokusekwa nekusekererwa
woziva panofarwa nepane kutsutsumwa
ngwarira kuziva chinovaka nechinoputsa
woziva chekutenga nechemahara
patsanura zvinofadza nezvinorwadza
Woziva zvinotapira nezvinodunga
waziva musiyano, wazorengeka zvino
KNOW THE DIFFERENCE
Arguing and quarreling are two different things
wisdom and irrationality have marked differences
screams and scuffles are worlds apart
commotion and clarification are distinct
there is a difference between arrogance and presumptuousness
love and jealousy are totally different
if you know the difference your life will have direction
Our failure to see the differences
has caused us to go astray
you will transpose this with that
and exchange that with this
you will mistake a snake for a walking stick
and drink poison, hoping to quench your thirst
if you know the difference then life is bliss
Know the difference between scorn and a smile
discern the thin line between contentment and frustration
be careful to know what builds and what destroys
know what to buy and what to have for free
separate what’s gratifying and what’s agonising
know what is sweet and what is sour
if you know the difference then we know you have got it together
wisdom and irrationality have marked differences
screams and scuffles are worlds apart
commotion and clarification are distinct
there is a difference between arrogance and presumptuousness
love and jealousy are totally different
if you know the difference your life will have direction
Our failure to see the differences
has caused us to go astray
you will transpose this with that
and exchange that with this
you will mistake a snake for a walking stick
and drink poison, hoping to quench your thirst
if you know the difference then life is bliss
Know the difference between scorn and a smile
discern the thin line between contentment and frustration
be careful to know what builds and what destroys
know what to buy and what to have for free
separate what’s gratifying and what’s agonising
know what is sweet and what is sour
if you know the difference then we know you have got it together
© 2014, Rabison Shumba
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