©DEV VIRAHSAWMY AND ICJM
POU SEDLEY ASSONNE
MERSI POU SOUTIEN EK SOLIDARITE LITERER
PREMIE PARTI/PART 1
‘TON ZAN EK TI-ZANN/UNCLE JOHN AND LITTLE JOAN
TIFIFI REZENBE
Eta tififi, aret rezenbe!
Enn tifi bizen ekout so tonton
Ki konn seki bon pou tou sitiasion.
Akoz sa mo dir, falepa fronte.
Tonton dir mwa kan, ou ou pou sanze.
Gramaten-tanto, mem sante malad;
Letansa kabri pe devor salad.
IMPUDENT HUSSY
Nuncle knows better! Impudent hussy!
Why don’t you listen? Listen to me.
Wisdom in my white hair. See! See!
Quit that insolence and a good girl be!
You’ll never change? Nuncle, you tell me.
The same corny lay, both night and day?
Your world is dying. Can’t you see?
RAPEL SA!
Rapel sa fifi! Si to ekziste
Se grasa paran, granparan, fami.
Akoz sa nou dir, zot bizen ekout
Parol gran dimoun parski nou kone.
Be dir mwa, Tonton, kot Bondie ladan?
Kot bann liv sakre – Gita ek Koran?
Falepa ekout profeser, monper?
HARK THERE!
Listen girl, listen! If you’re here, say ‘ta’;
‘Ta’ parents, grandparents and ancestors.
Hark there, listen! We know what’s good
For you and you and all of you.
But tell me Nuncle, where’s God in all that?
The Book? Teachings of prophets?
Teachers and gurus? Forget all that?
KI GALILEO TO KOZE?
Ayo mo tonton! To’le remet li
Dan prizon parski li dir reflesi;
Pa les laparans kabos to lespri.
Siyans finn prouve li pa ti manti.
Ki Galileo to pe rabase?
To Galileo li enn gro lalo.
Ekout mwa piti! Mwa ki konn lavi!
FORGET GALILEO!
You want him in jail, Nuncle? Dearie me!
Just because he says he doesn’t agree
To let maya hide truth from you and me;
Beyond appearance lies what we don’t see.
Galileo and you, get stuffed! Hear me!
Don’t waste my time with loony theory!
Think you know better? That’s the tragedy.
DAN LESIEL KOUMA LOR LATER
Mo dir twa, ekout mwa, aret fane.
Dan lesiel Gran Sef donn lord so bann fe;
Lor later Bourzwa diriz tabisman;
Travayer bizen swiv so komannman.
Ki Karl to koze? Kominis! Ate!
Tansion twa, mafi! Lanfer to rasion.
To deklar Bondie? Tansion pinision!
HEAVEN AND EARTH
Listen to me, babe, you get it all wrong.
The Lord in heaven has supreme power
And the boss on earth sings the same old song.
Subalterns must learn and this remember.
Karl? What Karl? Atheist! Communist!
Watch it girl! The gate to hell!
Don’t play God; listen to the bell!
REVIV OU RENE
Si Li Bon kifer dimoun dan mizer?
Kot Lamour-Pardon ki efas erer?
Mo dir ou Tonton, pa fasil konpran.
Pa fasil konpran parski latet dir!
Dan lavi avan zot ti nek pans zwir;
Be aster finn ler pou pas dan lanfer.
Koumadir reviv mem zafer rene!
RESURRECT OR REBORN
If S/He is good why are we poor?
Has merciful Love become dour?
Help me understand, Nuncle.
Easy thickhead, easy! Hear my meaning!
Once they lived a life of sin;
The price of sin is suffering.
Resurrect and reborn are then the same?
SISTEM FER GAMAT
Get misie panndit! Tirer plan extra!
Sak zour envansion nouvo tamasa;
Sak nouvo system dimann plis paysa.
Eski dan nou Liv ekziste tousa?
Pa bon koz koumsa, fifi malelve!
Gran dimoun ti dir kiltir li sakre.
Aksepte system enn nesesite.
RITUALS GALORE
See yon panditji, calls himself swami!
Every day he coins new ceremony;
And each new ritual costs much more money.
On this is our book happy?
Come off it naughty! Stop that nonsense!
Culture, you should know, is life’s essence.
Don’t question, accept! Don’t be a nuisance!
LI, LI TI, LI POU KOUMSA
Ekout mwa chokrri, aret fer mofinn!
Si napeyna zom pou sem so lagren,
Lavi dan pei ti pou tom anrwinn.
Zom-fam pa parey. Peyna pou sagren.
Diferan, sa wi me pa enferyer!
Later fertil ki donn lagren valer
Parski de kontrer vinn konplemanter.
IT IS, IT WAS AND WILL BE THUS
Listen to me girl! Stop your grumble!
We need man to sow his seed.
Otherwise chaos will rumble.
Equality? Rubbish! We’re not the same breed.
Different, yes, but not empty.
Fertile soil fosters vitality
For opposites bring unity.
BIYOKILTIREL
Bondie finn donn nou nene pou terne;
Ledwa dan lame, pou nou fouy nene;
Labous pou krase; sex pou fer zanfan.
Tou leres harram, sime lanterman.
Savedir, Tonton, linet lor nene,
Ledwa lor piano, sex pou dir lamour,
Enn mari pese ki merit lamor.
BIOCULTURAL
The Lord has given us a nose to sneeze;
Fingers to pick, our nose to squeeze;
A mouth to spit; sex to have children.
All the rest is damnation through fun.
You mean Nuncle, no specs on nose;
No piano play; no sex “I love you” to say.
Love and music are roads to doomsday.
PARDONN MWA TONTON
Mo sori, Tonton, mo finn fer enn fot.
Sey konpran zenes. Zot lemon enn lot.
Seki kouma yer, zordi paret drol;
Akoz sa dimoun pe rod enn lot rol.
Lemonn la parey! Me sel diferans,
Nou ti konn respe. Zordi move zans.
Zot nek konn zape, san get konsekans.
I’M SORRY NUNCLE!
I’m sorry, Nuncle, I was unfair and wrong.
Try to understand, things are changing;
The song you sang when you were young
Now sounds creaking, lacking in swing.
Nothing is new but with a difference.
We knew respect. Now all is arrogance.
Rubbish and nonsense spell pleasance.
MAMA LATER
Nou mama-later pa enn marsandiz
Vantalankan dan godam lakanbiz.
Li donn nou manze, lakaz pou reste
E nou nou bizen get so lasante.
Depi kan to finn vinn ekolozik?
Nouvo lamod sa! Aret fer komik!
Later so valer li dan tranzaksion.
MOTHER EARTH
Our mother earth is not market goods
To be auctioned and looted.
She gives us food and a home to live in
And we must, in return, look after her.
So, you’re now one of them green!
The new fad! You must be joking!
Land is wealth and good business. Full stop!
KIFER TO GROKER?
So dada ti ris; so papa ti ris;
Kote so mama ti’ena ankor plis.
Arpan ek Arpan ti fer sakreman.
Rezilta: ti’ena gran-gran tabisman.
Pa kwar mo groker. Explik mwa kifer
Esklav ek kouli finn perdi later
E kolon finn vinn miltimiliarder.
IS IT BITTERNESS?
His grandad was rich; his father was rich;
On his mother’s side there was still more.
Estate joined Estate, became big-bellied,
Delivered more estate. Don’t you be jealous!
Is it bitterness? Pray tell me, how come
Slaves and coolies lost God’s little acre
And masters became filthy billionaires?
LEPOK MO BABAM
Mo babam zame ti konn ban lekol
Me li ti konn lir bann fraz ek bann paz
Lor pie friyapen, lor kouler lesiel,
Kan later ouver enn nouvo sapit.
Bliye so lepok, mazinn to lepok:
Robotik, siber, siber-panari.
Get sibersiti, aret koz jangli.
GRANMA’S TIME
My granma’s never went to any school
But could read pages on our breadfruit tree,
On our sky’s changing mood and dress,
When our earth opened a new chapter.
That time is gone, think of your time!
Robotics, cyber, cyber rock and roll city.
Hail cyber lord! Goodbye silly!
KARO MO PAPA
Karo mo papa ti ranpli ar mel,
Miray ant rigol. Normal li ti fel.
Akoz sa rannman zame ti extra.
Li ti bizen fer kouma Misie la.
Lepok mo Tata, Tonton, pa bliye,
Kotez, Fondisak pa ti pe nwaye.
Diroking aster, samem nou maler.
MY FATHER’S FIELD
In my father’s field there were rock hillocks
And between sugarcane lines, walls of rocks.
Unprofitable it was and wasteful too!
What the Big Boss did, why did he not do?
Nuncle, don’t forget, in my grandad’s days,
Cottage, Fond Du Sac were not waterlogged.
With profitable de-rocking, our future’s bogged.
MOUS-DIMIEL-PAPYON
Lepok mo Tata, ti’ena’nn lot lizaz;
Mel ek miray ros ti protez later;
Vetiver ti bar maler balizaz;
Mous-dimiel ti tir zi dan petal fler.
Ki to pe koze? Prodiktivite,
Sa ki nou bizen. Mous-dimiel-papyon?
Kouyon! Monnsannto, sa ki solision!
BEES AND BUTTERFLIES
When grandad was young, it was different;
Rocky hillocks and stone walls offered protection;
Vetiver grass helped us stop erosion
While bees sucked nectar indifferent.
Nonsense! For productivity and growth, we fight.
Stuff your bees and butterflies.
Stupid! It’s Monsanto, your kindly kingly light!
KI PE ARIV NOU?
Ki pe ariv nou, beti? Drol tousa!
Sak fwa mo koze, to dir lekontrer;
Sak fwa to koze, mo dir lekontrer.
Enn bien drol natak, enn drol sinema.
Li pa drol Pedpap, li pa drol Tonton.
Akoz nou kontrer, nou de ekziste;
Lavi li toultan enn kontradiksion.
WHAT’S GOING WRONG?
Tell me Little Joan, what’s this fuss about?
Whatever I say, you say the opposite;
Whatever you say, I say the opposite.
Is it doubt or severe drought?
Dear Nuncle! Dear, dear Tonton!
There’s nothing wrong. It’s in the Book:
The Gita says clearly: “Life’s a contradiction”.
DEZIEM PARTI/PART 2
RAMDEO EK ZILIET/RAMDEO AND JULIET
RAMDEO PA DAKOR
Ramdeo, kifer to pe koz golmal
Ar nou tibaba? Koko, koz normal,
Kouma kan nou de rakont nou dezir,
Rapel lepase, prepar lavenir.
Mo’le nou baba koz sivilize;
Gagn plas dan enn gran liniversite;
Vinn enn avoka, kikfwa depite.
RAMDEO THINKS OTHERWISE
Ramdeo, tell me why you speak Mauglish?
You confuse baby with your gibberish!
Why don’t you speak to our baby
The way we do speak, you and me?
Baby must speak Universalish;
Go to top university,
Be a bright lawyer, perhaps deputy.
KREPI PA BON
Nou dres so seve, anpes li krepi,
Seve drwat, kouma to mama, zoli.
Ena solision pou fer li drese.
Saroj so seve bizen pa boukle.
Ziliet, mo koko, li Saroj-Zorzet!
Mwa mo kontan twa kouma to ete.
Si Saroj swiv twa, pou mwa sa oke.
FRIZZY HAIR NO GOOD
Not so beautiful, hair that’s frizzy;
Your mother’s straight hair, lovely.
A good model for Saroj’s hair!
That will make her nice and fair.
Juliet, my love, she’s Saroj-Georgette.
I love you the way you are
And if her hair’s like yours, GREAT!
LI ENPE FIFI
To pa trouv Raj-Pol vadire enpe
Fifi? Koumadir enn tifi manke?
Tansion, mo per, li vinn garson manti,
Dimoun pou riy nou. To tro mou ar li.
Ramdeo, to’le enn garson Rambo?
Pa bizen to per! Raj-Pol pa molo.
Si li diferan, les dimoun zaze!
ISN’T HE RATHER QUEER?
Don’t you find our son, Raj-Paul, a bit sissy?
Girlish mamma’s boy! Silly, queeny, poofy.
I’m the laughing stock, can’t you see?
You’re too soft with him. A softie!
You want a Rambo son, Ramdeo?
Don’t worry! Raj-Paul is not piano.
If he is, what’s the big deal?
KI PESE MO’NN FER?
Ziliet mo tann dir ki Saroj-Zorzet
Kontan enn garson ki apel Ismet.
Koz ar li, dir li pans loner fami;
Pa perdi letan, mazinn pihechdi.
Ki problem? Ismet? Ousa pihechdi?
Pa bliye koko, se enn Sheik Soufi
Ki bien-bien lontan ti sov nou lavi.
WHAT DID I DO WRONG?
Juliet have you heard that Saroj-Georgette
Loves a Muslim boy whose name is Ismet?
Tell her her duty to our good name;
Think of her duty to fortune and fame.
What’s wrong? His name? Your fame? The truth?
You seem to forget that once a Sufi Sheikh
Saved two young lovers from the grip of death.
TROUVE? MO TI’ENA REZON!
Mo ti’ena rezon! Met enn ti presion,
Tilom voltize. Koz bel-bel koze;
Kan bizen fer fas, so kalson tranpe.
Dir Saroj vinn la. Mo konn enn garson…
Saroj ek Ismet fini pran avion
Pou ranz zot menaz lot kote brizan.
Dan mesaz Soufi, zot trouv solision.
SEE? I WAS RIGHT!
You see I was right! Put in some pressure
And lover-boy falls flat. Swashbuckling swagger!
But when it’s time to fight, his pants get wet.
Tell Saroj to come down. Forget Ismet!
Saroj and Ismet are to new lands away
To start a new life where love has a say.
Sufism now shows them the way.
ZEZI TI DIR
Avan ferm lizie, Zezi lor lakrwa
Ti pardonn erer ki lezot ti fer.
Twa Ramdeo to pe soufer lanfer
Parski to pa’le pardonn to erer.
Zanfan Saroj zame finn vinn kot mwa;
Raj ek so partner zame vinn get mwa.
Kouma Zezi, mo ‘si mo lor lakrwa!
JESUS SAID
When the end was near, Jesus on his cross
Forgave all those who caused his suffering.
But you my Ramdeo, undergo hell-fire burning
Because you can’t face your own misgivings.
Saroj’s child has never come to see their Tata;
Raj and what’s his name ignore their Papa.
I know what it is to be nailed to a cross.
PA DIFISIL
Saroj-Zorzet sa? Wi, isi papa!
Ki zot fer seswar, twa, Ismet, baba?
Vinn manz set kari pou selebre Pak.
Wi, nou pou ansam. Raj-Pol ek Ti-Zak.
To trouve Ramou? Pa ti difisil.
Rekonet erer. Apre pardone.
Rekonsiliasion, samem mesaz Pak.
EASY!
My Saroj-Georgette? This is me, your dad!
Please come home tonight, you, Ismet and Ramu.
Seven-curry food, sago, poppadom.
We’ll all be there; Raj-Paul and our Jack.
You see, my Ramu? It was not that tough.
First ‘Mea culpa’, then forgive-forget.
Reconciliation is Easter tidings.
EKOUTE, TO POU TANDE
Aprann ekoute, si to’le tande
Mesaz Gita, Levanzil ek Koran
Me tansion Tartif ki servi paz Liv
Pou sem zizani, detrir armoni.
Anou selebre nou lakorite
Otour enn latab pou nou dir mersi
Senier Zezikri ki’nn montre sime.
LISTEN IF YOU WANT TO HEAR
Learn to listen if you want to hear
Wisdom from Gita, Gospels and Koran
But beware of Tartuffes who use the Book
To sow discord and destroy harmony.
Let’s celebrate love and friendship
Around a table to thank Lord Jesus
Who taught us the way to walk.
GARSON OUSA AVTARR
To kone Ramou, malgre to Endou,
Zame to’nn fors mwa swiv to relizion;
Nou de zanfan konn Gita, Levanzil
E nou tizanfan aster lir Koran.
Depi koumansman, nou ti tom dakor
Lamour, liberte zame separe.
Avtarr pa avtarr, ena ENN Bondie.
THE SON OR AVATAR
You know Ramu dear, you may be Hindu
But you also respect other’s faith.
Our children read Gita and Gospels;
Our grandchild reads Koran as well.
From Day One we said, my Juliet,
Love and freedom go together.
Avatar or not, there’s just ONE God.
SI NOU NOU KAPAV KIFER LEZOT NON
Pak enn lokazion pou nou get dime –
Pa Lendi dan fet, manze, bwar donn jaz –
Me dime partaz, dime solider.
Si nou nou kapav, kifer lezot non?
Dime dan partaz, solidarite
Kan so ler vini, pa kapav bare.
Falepa prese. Get sime Zezi.
IF WE CAN WHY CAN’T THEY
Easter is the time to imagine tomorrow –
Not Monday full of fun, wine and rich food –
But Monday of solidarity and sharing.
If we two we can, why can’t others do?
Monday of sharing and solidarity,
When its time has come, it will come.
No need to rush! Jesus has shown us the way.
TRWAZIEM PARTI/PART 3
TOUKOREK-LIDYFISIL/JOHN COCKY-MARY WORRY
TWA DAN MITING?
Lydi, tomem sa? Enn siek nou pa zwenn.
To finn bien sanze. To vinn dan miting?
Ki to bonom dir? Li les twa sorti?
Mo ti kwar ki fam so plas dan lakaz.
Eh wi Toukorek, to ti kont sanzman
Me tou pe sanze, kontan pa kontan.
Pli tar nou koze. Mo pe al koze!
YOU? IN A PUBLIC MEETING?
Mary is that you? When did we last meet?
You have changed a lot! I can’t believe it!
You and politics? And hubby agrees?
I thought woman’s place was in the kitchen.
Oh yes John Cocky! You were against change
But change is here, willy-nilly.
See you later! It’s my turn to talk.
TO PA SANZ DIS-REYE?
Hen Lydi, touzour Marksis-sosialis?
Lemonn finn sanze me Lydie bouzfix!
Globalizasion fer akter-aktris
Me twa to koz mem koze kominis.
To pa’nkor trouve ki to bann fer vis?
Kreasion Bondie, zordi gagn soulpis
Me twa to kontan, to bann pe vinn ris.
WON’T YOU CHANGE YOUR SONG?
O worry Mary! Still in your red dress?
The world has changed; there’s no more fuss.
Globalization is now the sole king;
Only you still cling to the old thing.
You’re still blind to the muck and grime;
God’s garden is now just a heap of trash
But you’re happy for your friends are full of cash.
TARTIF DEKLAR SEN
Mo dir twa Lidy, li enn gran Lespri;
Li plen mo kari ar bon masala;
So ches senkann-sis vadire Shiva;
Dan lekol Adolf, li gagn premie pri.
Toukorek, mo frer, servi to koko!
Mo finn dir twa, pa get plim lor zozo;
Tartif deklar sen pe bril nou karo.
SAINT TARTUFFE
I tell you Mary, he is best actor;
He fills my heart with top spices;
His fifty-six inch chest’s just like Shiva’s
And in Adolf’s Academy, he’s chancellor.
Dear John Cocky, remember words of old:
“All that glisters is not gold.”
Wolf in sheep’s clothing will ruin your fold.
POURTAN NOU PAREY
Lontan-lontan imigran sort Lafrik
Ti peple partou ziska Lamerik;
Plitar imigran sort depi partou
Ti peple Moris. Nou parey, nou tou.
Fodepa to koz kouma sa trou la!
Ena imigran fer pou manz kaka;
Ena imigran fer pou ranz rashtra.
AND YET WE ARE ALIKE
Long-long time ago migrants from Omo
Peopled our planet from there to Rio.
Later immigrants from three continents
Peopled our island. It’s magnificent!
Mary, don’t you speak like that asshole thing!
Most migrants are good at shit eating;
Just a few of us are rashtra-building.
SA ZOM!
Misie Igrek Ve, pa kwar li enn bom!
Dir ou enn sel kou, fer li bous so trou.
RSS Modi ek so gran Loulou
Pou met prop partou. Sa ki apel zom!
Toukorek Zordi, twa ek to Modi,
Parey kouma yer, zot pou pandi li,
Fer kouma Godse ti fer ar Gandhi.
THIS IS A MAN
Mister Why V. is second to none!
With just one mouse roar he fires his gun.
RSS Modi and his new henchman
Will silence the ‘NOES’. This is my man.
Hey John Cocky, you and your Modi
Will rid the world of all ‘DO NOT AGREE’,
As Godse did to Mahatma Gandhi.
SAMEM KI BIZEN
‘Ton Adolf Hitler ek Donald Tonton,
‘Ton Bibi, Modi, samem ki pli bon.
Ki Nehru-Gandhi? Bizen Hindutva!
Aret tralala! Anou ranz Rashtra.
Eta Toukorek, dapre to lespri,
Pa ena lespas dan to paradi
Pou seki pa’le manz to kichiri?
THAT’S WHAT WE NEED
Uncle Adolf and Donald Trump,
Uncle Bibi, Swami Modi
Are what we need. They are our lamp.
We need Hindutva, we need purity.
Hey, Johnny Cocky, if I get you right,
In your Rashtra, might is right.
Be not like me and lose the light!
PA LES ZOT MARYE
Chichi, fer malang. Bizen anpes sa.
Modi ek Varma, RSS chokrra
Pou mari manga. Zot pou modi twa!
Anpes zanfan la fer katakata.
Toukorek, to finn bliye to lepok
Kan sourir enn fam ti fer twa toktok.
Anou ed zanfan, olie donn zot sok.
DON’T LET IT BE
Disgusting! That should never be.
Modi, Varma and RSS Tartuffe
Won’t like it. Cursed you will be.
Keep our children away from mischief.
John Cocky, have you forgotten
The sighs and tears of that kitten
In love. Let us help them children.
PARITE
Pa zis bizen plis, bizen parite:
50/50 dan parlman, kabine,
Dan bord direkter, dan tou komite,
Lekip dirizan ek aktivite.
Wi, dakor ar twa! Parite total
Dan maler, simitier ek lopital;
Parite toultan. Nesans ek leral.
PARITY
Not just more women. We need parity!
In central and local authority,
In commission, board and committee,
In leadership, membership of party.
No problem, my dear. In sickness and health
Total parity! In birth and in death.
Without exception. Poverty and wealth.
MEYER ENN KONN BIEN KI DETRWA DAN VID
To bon kamarad dir nou koz Kreol.
Ki pou fer ar sa? Nou bizen Inndi,
Ourdou, Bojpouri, Angle, Marati,
Franse ek Sanskrit. So lespri bien drol.
Aprann bien premie, Toukorek bayo.
Lerla enn deziem; si kapav tinngo.
Kan rod tro boukou, nou tas lor poto.
BETTER ONE GOOD THAN MANY BAD
Your very good friend favours patois.
What a waste! Better learn Hindi,
Urdu, Bhojpuri, English, Marathi.
French and Sanskrit. He must be crazy.
Oh Johnny, Johnny! Don’t be too greedy!
Learn one at a time until you know three;
Try to grasp too much leaves your hand empty.
ANGLE LANG KREOL?
To bon kamarad so latet pa bon?
Angle lang kreol dapre so leson.
Katorz finn ventwit! Bizen kol so fit.
So plas dan mantal. Nou zet li dan pit!
Twa ki enn zeni pa Galilei;
Charles, Albert, Noam bon pou labatwar!
Akoz sa Modi bizen pran pouvwar.
ENGLISH A PATOIS?
Your good friend is good for the bin.
He says that English is just a pidjin.
He surely is out of his mind;
Beau Bassin is home for his kind.
You’re a paradigm, certainly!
Galileo, Darwin, Einstein and Chomsky
Must bow before your King Modi.
KATRIYEM PARTI/PART 4
SARASWATI EK MAMON/SARASWATI AND MAMMON
KONTRER NESESER
Eh Saraswati, aret brouy lespri
Ar to poezi ek filozofi;
Fer zenes trouv kler dan zot kont banker;
Fer zot konn nisa kan vinn miliarder.
Mamon, mo kontrer, san twa peyna mwa;
Kontinie manz krann ar promes fizon
Letan mo giji limazinasion.
WE NEED OPPOSITES
Saraswati dear, don’t confuse kiddie
With your poetry and philosophy;
Make them see the light in their banking glee
And feel all the thrills of a ringing fee.
Mammon, you and I, two faces of the same coin;
You make them greedy with promises wealthy
While I tickle fast their creative fantasy.
MAMON RIM AR KANON
To kone to nom li rim ar kanon,
Ar detonasion, ar dezolasion.
Pou mwa rim ar senfoni, da Vinci,
Alighieri ek M. Mastroianni.
Mo pa’le tabla ki rim ar pagla!
Bizen destriksion pou gagn konstriksion
E dan konstriksion ena bel fizon.
MAMMON RHYMES WITH CANNON
You know that your name rhymes well with cannon,
With explosion and desolation.
Mine rhymes with symphony, da Vinci,
Alighieri and Marcello Mastroianni.
I don’t need music which rhymes with sick!
Destructive war breeds new building
Which in turn breeds loads of sterling.
MODI EK BIBI MO DALON
Modi ek Bibi sa de gran lider!
Bon zelev Donald ek Adolf Hitler.
Dan lager zot sir ena bel pitay;
Zot tabisman pa pou tom lor lapay.
Komie gaspiyaz to kwar neseser
Pou ki tou dimoun aret fer lager?
Zot ekout Mamon, zot vinn trou san fon!
MODI AND BIBI ARE MINE
Modi and Bibi are my favourites!
Donald’s and Adolf’s diligent pupils.
They know that war can make some of us rich
And our business will never miss a stitch.
How much more waste do we need
To bury war forever and not breed?
Alas Mammon’s hold our greed does feed.
GRASA MWA
He Saraswati, pa bizen manga!
To dir ki mo rengn enn galimacha.
Kifer to bliye ki se grasa mwa
Pablo Picasso ti fer Guernica?
Guernica li la pou dir nou for-for
Ki disip Mamon bien bizen lamor
Pou plen so kofor. Nou bizen lamour.
THANKS TO ME
Hey Saraswati, don’t rant and rave!
My rule you say is disaster grave.
Why don’t you in memory save
I to Picasso inspiration gave.
Guernica is here to clamour loud and clear
Mammon’s dream and our nighrmare
While we reach out for love and care.
ANZ LAVI EK ANZ LAMOR
Se mo bann disip ki finn ranz gratsiel,
Santral nikleer; fouy trou dan lesiel,
Ranz loto tirbo, kraz montagn, met plat
Fore-tropikal, fer klima fay pat.
Eh, dir mwa Mamon, si enn zour vini
Nou de mars ansam, kre enn lot lavi?
To kwar posib sa? Ousa tou fini?
ANGELS OF LIFE AND DEATH
My disciples build buildings giant high
Nuclear power plants; dig holes in the sky,
Build turbo cars, raze mountains to the ground,
Clear rain forests and turn climate upside down.
Eh Mammon, do you think one day,
You and I together will make hay?
Will it sway or simply slip away?
26.04.19