Zepeling di Anoti / Airships in the Night
Poesia na Kristang, with an English translation
Nus podih parseh.
Nus podih bringkah.
Mas olotu inda ta beng kaladu, prestadu.
Olotu inda ta chegah.
Inda ta buskah
pra tudu teng fortidang subezu
pra afrontah sabia sa ira.
Justu nanggora kereh bontadi?
Justu na isti sigundu?
Koitadu.
Jenti Kristang ta kereh eli pra fora di 13,523 anu,
fora di 4,939,275 dia,
fora di 426,753,360,000 sigundu.
Justu fora di pertu di eternu.
Justu pertu di otru semesta
undi porku podih abuah
kung chersoneza podih lantah
kung forsa di bafu kung bringku,
suminti kung stori.
Kereh impoku agu.
Desah impoku lumi,
pra komesah nubu mundu interu sa mezi.
Keng ta kureh na rentu di sa bariga?
Ngka krengkrensa, ngka diabu—
justu nosta sa lembransa.
We could appear.
We could put on a show.
But they will still come, quietly, quickly.
They are still sufficient / arriving.
Still looking
for everything / everyone that has strength enough
to confront wisdom’s wrath.
Only now then you want a wish?
Only at right now?
Koitadu.
The Kristang people have waited for it for more than 13,523 years,
more than 4,939,275 days,
more than 426,753,360,000 seconds.
More than just a little closer to eternity.
Just nearby to the other universe
where swine can fly
and continents can be raised
with the force of steam and stagecraft,
seedings and stories.
A little water is wanted.
A little light desired,
to begin the machine within the whole world.
Who is running inside its insides?
Not children, not demons—
just the nostalgia of memory.