Kasha langu la zamani   kasha lisilo t'umbuu
Kitasa ndani kwa ndani  na ufunguwo ni huu
Alofongua n'nani        amelivunda maguu


Kasha muundo wa kale    Si muundo wa kisasa
Ni kazi ya watu wale    sidhaniya ni Mombasa
Usifanye mak'elele      melipa mengi mapesa


Mafundi wot'e wa kale   kwa hivi sasa hakuna
Nawalobaki wafile       kabisa hutawaona
Ilobaki mvulele         Na kazi sijaiona

Kasha la mkaafu         Madhubuti sawasawa
Lenye harufu ya fuu     Kula ukilifunguwa
lanukiya karafuu        na waridi isotiwa

           Nisikiza binti nikupe yakini,
           Nisikiza binti nikupe yakini,
           Nenda na laiti na mengi ya ndani,
           Nenda na laiti na mengi ya ndani,
           nakupenda dhati sipati kifani,

              
           Hunijia wakti ukaja ndotoni,
           hunijia wakti ukaja ndotoni,
           Viungo vya kati vyako vya mwilini,
           Viungo vya kati vyako vya mwilini,
           Toka magotini kuja kifuani.

           Rangi samawati yako ya machoni,
           Rangi samawati yako ya machoni,
           Husadiki siti nenda kiooni,          
           Husadiki siti nenda kiooni,  
           Huna tafauti khurulaini,

           Nipe wako wakti binti tabasamu,
           Nipe wako wakti binti tabasamu,
           Ishe yangu hamu irudi fahamu,
           pendo kwa thamani lashinda hisani.  

 

Ua langu silioni nani alolichukuwa? 
Ua langu lileteni moyo upate kupowa 
Ua langu la zamani Ua lililo muruwa.

Ua langu limetoka tangu babu kunachiya. 
Ua nikilikumbuka machozi hunijiliya
Ua langu lileteni enyi mlolichukuwa.

Ua nimelizoweya. lili nuru ya nyumbani
Ua nisiporejewa. maisha yawe ya ya nini?
Ua langu lileteni enyi mlolichukuwa,

Ua limenipoteya sijui nifanye nini
Harufuye nasikiya na machoni silioni.
Ua langu lileteni enyi mlolichukuwa.

Ua langu nalitaka toka babu kunaliya
Ua lisilo shambuka lililonipa haiya 
Ua nikilikumbuka. machozi nikamwagiya.


Ua langu nalipenda kwa nuru yake na nyunda.
Uhai menitolea silioni duniani
Ua langu lileteni,enyi mlolichukuwa.

I. Chiriku nikupendae, ndege nilokuamini, 
   Nawe usinikimbie, tanitia mashakani,
   Ulilonalo nambie, kilokuudhi ni nini? 
   Chiriku Umejitenga, kunitia mashakani,

2. Chiriku leo waruka, wenda tuwa mti gani?
   Ghafula umenitoka watezateza angani, 
   Natamani kukushika, lakini uko angani,
   Chiriku umejitenga, kunitia mashakani.

3. Chiriku iwapo wenda warudi kwenu porini,
   Ningali nikikupenda, pendo la dhati rohoni, 
   Sina raha kwa kukonda, hali yangu taabani,
   Chiriku umejitenga, kunitia mashakani.

4. Chiriku nilikulea, tangu uko utotoni, 
   Mtama hakutilia, faradhi sikukuhini, 
   Na maji ya kutumia, mema ya mferejini,
   Chiriku umejitenga, kunitia mashakani,

5. Chiriku tusitupane, zitanizidi huzuni, 
   Helo njoo tuonane, tupane ilo yakini,
   Uliyonayo unene, nijuwe ni jambo gani,
   Chiriku umejitenga, kunitia mashakani.

6. Chiriku wanipa dhiki, kwa kukukosa tunduni,
   Nilacho hakinishuki, kikanituwa tumboni,
   Huchekwa na halaiki, wanionao njiani,
   Chiriku umejitenga. kunitia mashakani.

7, Chiriku uliye bora mfano wako sioni,
   Imenifika hasara, tangu wewe kunihuni,
   Macho yangu yamefura, nimekuwa ugonjwani,
   Chiriku umejitenga. kunitia mashakani.

                                   
8,Chiriku  nihurumia. hali yangu iko duni,
  Usiku hujikeshea. kwa mawazo akilini, 
  Hukumbuka mazowea, njema na zako hisani  
  Chiriku umejitenga, kunitia mashakani

9,Chiriku mlio wako. nao umenipa shani.
  Hunitia pumbaziko, una,polia tunduni 
  Nikawa na huba kwako. asubuhi na na jioni,   
  Chiriku umejitenga, kunitia mashakani

10,Chiriku usighurike, hebu mlani shetani,
   Niliwaza usichoke, unitowe majonzini,,
   Mwanzo wetu ukumbuke usisahau fulani, 
   Chiriku umejitenga, kunitia mashakani·

11 Chiriku jua lazama lapotea mawinguni,
   Nimechoka kusimama. kukunasihi mtini,
   Nakuombea salama ukae vyema porini  
   Chiriku umejitenga, kunitia mashakarni

12· Chiriku nenda ukija, ndege wangu wa mwanzoni,
   Niko pweke nakungoja. mwenginewe sitamani, 
   Kwako ningali na haja inikwambiayo amini, 
   chiriku umejitenga. kunitia mashakani·


-AZIZ ABDALLA KiwLin

TUFAHA 
              

Tufaha liko mtini kulila nalitamani

moyo wataimaniani?Macho yako tufahani

walinzi wamo zamuni hawatoki asilani.

 

Tufaha harufu yake haipo ulimwenguni

tena ladha tamu yake haishindani na tini.

Nikiswifu rangi yake utakubali yakini.

 

Rangi yake ya dhahabu hung’ara hata gizani.

Utakapo lijaribu utaishia njiani

hao waliojaribu wamebaki mtegoni.

 

Tufaha Ianiadhibu lanitia kitanzini.

Mwenzenu ni hamuni sitapowa ugonjwani.

Naomba Aliwahabu anitowe adhabuni.

  MKARARA

Tufaha Iangu muhibu kukula ninatamani.

   

 

THE APPLE TRANSLATION

the apple is on the tree

I long to eat it, my heart,

what do you desire?

Your eyes are on the apple,

but the guards are on watch

they never leave their posts.

 

The fragrance of the apple

is not found anywhere in the world

moreover its sweet taste is not surpassed by the fig

When I praise Its colour you will undoubtedly agree.

 

Golden Is its colour,

it shines even in the dark

If you want to try It

you will finish on the way.

Those who have tried remained in the trap.

 

The apple tortures me,

It hangs me on the gallows.

I your friend, am sick,

I shall not be cured of the disease

I pray to God, the Giver,

may He save me from this torture

 

Refrain

My darling apple I long to enjoy you