Two Swahili poems

These are two short poems I wrote in Swahili while I was in East Africa over the summer of 2015. I have more recently decided to translate them (7th of February 2016). 

Mzungu

Kujisikia mbaya
Kutoka daraja juu
Kizunguzungu

Kutembea tembea
Kusafari tu!
Kuzunguka

Kichwa kile kinachouma
Watu wanaovurugwa
Huyu ni Mzungu?

Watu wanaopenda kwenda
Kuangalia mazingira
Yule ni Mzungu?

Inatumika sana,
Kwa bahati njema au mbaya.

Ubaguzi wa rangi?
Au hatuwezi kusema hivi?
Mimi sijui.

Usitupe takataka

Usitupe takataka,
Hata useme yenye baraka.

Usitupe takataka,
Hapa watu hawapo haraka.

Usitupe takataka,
Unacheka unapoulizwa.

Usitupe takataka, ipo mziwa.

Ile nyumba mbele jalala,
Wana shida wanapotaka kulala.

Kama ukitaka kulala salama,
Usitupe takataka hapa!

Translations

Mzungu 

[Mzungu: the general name for a white person in East Africa]

To feel bad

From a height

Dizziness

To roam around

And just travel!

Wayfaring

People with aching heads

Who are generally confused

Is this an Mzungu?

People that love to be on the move

Traversing different milieux

Is that an Mzungu?

It’s a word that is used a lot,

For good fortune or bad. 

Racism?

Or are we unable to say this?

I just don’t know. 

Don’t throw litter

Don’t throw litter,

Even the expression has a blessing.

Don’t throw litter,

Here where the people aren’t in a hurry.

Don’t throw litter, 

You laugh when you’re asked. 

Don’t throw litter, into the lake. 

You see that house in front of the rubbish heap,

They have difficulty when they’re trying to sleep.

If you want to sleep peacefully, 

Don’t throw your litter here!