The Salt Merchant's Wife of Mambrui | Mke wa Mfanyabiashara wa Chumvi wa Mambrui | زَوْجَةُ تاجِرِ المِلْحِ في مامْبْروي
"In the salt-harvesting town of Mambrui, a merchant's voluptuous wife adds flavor to the life of the young poet who comes to document local traditions."
زَوْجَةُ تاجِرِ المِلْحِ في مامْبْروي
Mke wa Mfanyabiashara wa Chumvi wa Mambrui
The Salt Merchant's Wife of Mambrui
الفصل الأول: أَرْضُ المِلْح
Sura ya Kwanza: Ardhi ya Chumvi
Chapter One: The Land of Salt
في مامْبْروي، حَيْثُ تَتَلَأْلَأُ أَحْواضُ المِلْحِ تَحْتَ الشَّمْسِ كَمَرايا فِضِّيَّةٍ وَيُجَفِّفُ البَحْرُ دُموعَهُ عَلى الأَرْضِ، عاشَ تاجِرُ مِلْحٍ اسْمُهُ عُمَرُ مَعَ زَوْجَتِهِ لَيْلى.
Katika Mambrui, ambapo mabwawa ya chumvi yanametameta chini ya jua kama vioo vya fedha na bahari inakausha machozi yake juu ya ardhi, aliishi mfanyabiashara wa chumvi jina lake Omar na mke wake Leila.
In Mambrui, where salt pans glitter under the sun like silver mirrors and the sea dries its tears on the land, lived a salt merchant named Omar with his wife Leila.
عُمَرُ رَجُلٌ مَشْغولٌ يُسافِرُ دائِماً لِبَيْعِ المِلْحِ في القُرى البَعيدَةِ. لَيْلى تَبْقى وَحيدَةً في البَيْتِ أَيّاماً طَويلَةً.
Omar ni mtu mwenye shughuli nyingi anayesafiri kila mara kuuza chumvi katika vijiji vya mbali. Leila anabaki peke yake nyumbani kwa siku nyingi.
Omar is a busy man who always travels to sell salt in distant villages. Leila remains alone at home for many days.
لَيْلى في التّاسِعَةِ وَالثَّلاثينَ، امْرَأَةٌ سَواحِلِيَّةٌ فاتِنَةٌ. بَشَرَتُها بِلَوْنِ الكَراميلِ، وَجَسَدُها مُمْتَلِئٌ كَأَكْياسِ المِلْحِ المَمْلوءَةِ—ثَدْيانِ ثَقيلانِ، بَطْنٌ ناعِمَةٌ، وَأَرْدافٌ تَتَمايَلُ كَأَمْواجِ البَحْرِ.
Leila ana umri wa miaka thelathini na tisa, mwanamke wa Kiswahili wa kupendeza. Ngozi yake kama rangi ya caramel, na mwili wake umejaa kama magunia ya chumvi yaliyojaa—matiti mazito, tumbo laini, na matako yanayoyumba kama mawimbi ya bahari.
Leila was thirty-nine years of age, a captivating Swahili woman. Her skin the color of caramel, her body full as filled salt sacks—heavy breasts, soft belly, and buttocks swaying like sea waves.
الفصل الثاني: الشّاعِرُ الجَوّال
Sura ya Pili: Mshairi Mtembezi
Chapter Two: The Wandering Poet
جاءَ إلى مامْبْروي شاعِرٌ شابٌّ اسْمُهُ بَشيرُ بنُ يونُسَ مِنْ لامو، في الثّامِنَةِ وَالعِشْرينَ مِنْ عُمْرِهِ. كانَ يَجْمَعُ الأَشْعارَ وَالأَغاني الشَّعْبِيَّةَ مِنَ القُرى السّاحِلِيَّةِ.
Alikuja Mambrui mshairi kijana jina lake Bashir bin Yunus kutoka Lamu, mwenye umri wa miaka ishirini na nane. Alikuwa akikusanya mashairi na nyimbo za watu kutoka vijiji vya pwani.
There came to Mambrui a young poet named Bashir ibn Yunus from Lamu, twenty-eight years of age. He was collecting poems and folk songs from the coastal villages.
"أَبْحَثُ عَنْ أَغاني نِساءِ المِلْحِ،" قالَ لِلَيْلى.
"Ninatafuta nyimbo za wanawake wa chumvi," alimwambia Leila.
"I am searching for the songs of the salt women," he said to Leila.
"أَنا أَعْرِفُ كُلَّ الأَغاني." ابْتَسَمَتْ. "لَكِنَّها لا تُغَنّى لِكُلِّ أَحَدٍ."
"Mimi najua nyimbo zote." Alitabasamu. "Lakini haziimbiiwi kwa kila mtu."
"I know all the songs." She smiled. "But they are not sung for everyone."
"كَيْفَ أَسْتَحِقُّ سَماعَها؟"
"Nitafanya nini kustahili kuzisikia?"
"How do I deserve to hear them?"
"ابْقَ حَتّى يُسافِرَ زَوْجي. سَأُغَنّيكَ ما لَمْ يَسْمَعْهُ أَحَدٌ."
"Kaa hadi mume wangu asafiri. Nitakuimbia kile ambacho hakuna mtu aliyekisikia."
"Stay until my husband travels. I will sing you what no one has heard."
الفصل الثالث: الأُغْنِيَةُ الأولى
Sura ya Tatu: Wimbo wa Kwanza
Chapter Three: The First Song
سافَرَ عُمَرُ. في المَساءِ، جاءَ بَشيرُ إلى بَيْتِ لَيْلى.
Omar alisafiri. Jioni, Bashir alikuja nyumbani kwa Leila.
Omar traveled. In the evening, Bashir came to Leila's house.
"غَنّي لي،" قالَ وَهُوَ يَجْلِسُ أَمامَها.
"Niimbie," alisema akikaa mbele yake.
"Sing for me," he said as he sat before her.
بَدَأَتْ تُغَنّي أُغْنِيَةً قَديمَةً عَنِ المِلْحِ وَالبَحْرِ. صَوْتُها عَذْبٌ كَالماءِ العَذْبِ.
Alianza kuimba wimbo wa zamani kuhusu chumvi na bahari. Sauti yake tamu kama maji safi.
She began to sing an old song about salt and the sea. Her voice was sweet as fresh water.
"جَميلٌ،" قالَ. "لَكِنَّني أُريدُ الأُغْنِيَةَ السِّرِّيَّةَ."
"Nzuri," alisema. "Lakini nataka wimbo wa siri."
"Beautiful," he said. "But I want the secret song."
"الأُغْنِيَةُ السِّرِّيَّةُ لا تُغَنّى بِالصَّوْتِ." خَلَعَتْ خِمارَها. "تُغَنّى بِالجَسَدِ."
"Wimbo wa siri hauimbiwi kwa sauti." Aliondoa mtandio wake. "Unaimbwa kwa mwili."
"The secret song is not sung with the voice." She removed her veil. "It is sung with the body."
الفصل الرابع: الإيقاعُ
Sura ya Nne: Mdundo
Chapter Four: The Rhythm
خَلَعَتْ ثَوْبَها بِبُطْءٍ كَمَنْ يَكْشِفُ قَصيدَةً سَطْراً سَطْراً.
Alivua nguo yake polepole kama mtu anayefunua shairi mstari kwa mstari.
She removed her garment slowly like one revealing a poem line by line.
جَسَدُها ظَهَرَ أَمامَهُ. كُلُّ مُنْحَنى كَبَيْتٍ مِنَ الشِّعْرِ.
Mwili wake ulionekana mbele yake. Kila mkunjo kama ubeti wa shairi.
Her body appeared before him. Every curve like a verse of poetry.
"هَذِهِ هِيَ القَصيدَةُ،" قالَتْ. "اِقْرَأْها."
"Hii ndiyo shairi," alisema. "Isome."
"This is the poem," she said. "Read it."
اقْتَرَبَ مِنْها. بَدَأَ "يَقْرَأُ" جَسَدَها بِيَدَيْهِ—ثَدْيَيْها، بَطْنَها، أَرْدافَها.
Alimkaribia. Alianza "kusoma" mwili wake kwa mikono yake—matiti yake, tumbo lake, matako yake.
He approached her. He began to "read" her body with his hands—her breasts, her belly, her buttocks.
الفصل الخامس: القافِيَة
Sura ya Tano: Kina
Chapter Five: The Rhyme
"في الشِّعْرِ، القافِيَةُ تُوَحِّدُ الأَبْياتَ،" قالَ. "وَفي الجَسَدِ؟"
"Katika shairi, kina kinaunganisha beti," alisema. "Na katika mwili?"
"In poetry, rhyme unites the verses," he said. "And in the body?"
"في الجَسَدِ، اللِّسانُ يُوَحِّدُ الأَعْضاءَ." أَرْقَدَتْهُ وَصَعِدَتْ فَوْقَ وَجْهِهِ.
"Katika mwili, ulimi unaunganisha viungo." Alimlaza na kupanda juu ya uso wake.
"In the body, the tongue unites the organs." She laid him down and climbed over his face.
نَزَلَتْ عَلَيْهِ. لِسانُهُ بَدَأَ يُنْشِدُ قَصيدَةً في زَهْرَتِها.
Alishuka juu yake. Ulimi wake ulianza kutunga shairi ndani ya ua lake.
She descended on him. His tongue began to compose a poem in her flower.
"آآآهْ!" صَرَخَتْ. "القافِيَةُ جَميلَةٌ!"
"Aaah!" alipiga kelele. "Kina ni nzuri!"
"Aaah!" she screamed. "The rhyme is beautiful!"
الفصل السادس: البَحْرُ الشِّعْرِيّ
Sura ya Sita: Bahari ya Kishairi
Chapter Six: The Poetic Sea
عَمِلَ بِلِسانِهِ كَشاعِرٍ يَصوغُ أَبْياتَهُ. فَخِذاها السَّمينَتانِ حَوْلَ رَأْسِهِ.
Alifanya kazi kwa ulimi wake kama mshairi anayeunda beti zake. Mapaja yake manono yalimzunguka kichwa chake.
He worked with his tongue like a poet crafting his verses. Her plump thighs surrounded his head.
"البَحْرُ يَفيضُ!" صَرَخَتْ وَهِيَ تَصِلُ إلى ذُرْوَتِها.
"Bahari inafurika!" alipiga kelele akifikia kilele chake.
"The sea overflows!" she screamed as she reached her climax.
سائِلُها المالِحُ يَغْمُرُ وَجْهَهُ. طَعْمُها كَالبَحْرِ نَفْسِهِ.
Maji yake ya chumvi yalimfunika uso wake. Ladha yake kama bahari yenyewe.
Her salty fluid drenched his face. Her taste was like the sea itself.
الفصل السابع: القَصيدَةُ الكامِلَة
Sura ya Saba: Shairi Kamili
Chapter Seven: The Complete Poem
"الآنَ،" لَهَثَتْ. "أَكْمِلِ القَصيدَةَ."
"Sasa," alihema. "Kamilisha shairi."
"Now," she panted. "Complete the poem."
خَلَعَ ثِيابَهُ. قَلَمُهُ مُنْتَصِبٌ وَجاهِزٌ لِلْكِتابَةِ.
Alivua nguo zake. Kalamu yake imesimama na tayari kuandika.
He removed his clothes. His pen was erect and ready to write.
دَخَلَها وَبَدَأَ يَكْتُبُ قَصيدَتَهُ داخِلَها.
Aliingia ndani yake na kuanza kuandika shairi lake ndani yake.
He entered her and began to write his poem inside her.
"آآآهْ!" أَنَّتْ. "كُلُّ كَلِمَةٍ أَعْمَقُ مِنَ السّابِقَةِ!"
"Aaah!" aliugua. "Kila neno ni la kina zaidi kuliko lile lililotangulia!"
"Aaah!" she moaned. "Every word deeper than the last!"
الفصل الثامن: الخاتِمَةُ الشِّعْرِيَّة
Sura ya Nane: Hitimisho la Kishairi
Chapter Eight: The Poetic Ending
تَحَرَّكَ بِإيقاعِ الشِّعْرِ. تَفْعيلَةٌ تَفْعيلَةٌ. بَيْتٌ بَيْتٌ.
Alisogea kwa mdundo wa shairi. Kipande kipande. Ubeti ubeti.
He moved with the rhythm of poetry. Meter by meter. Verse by verse.
"أَقْوى!" صَرَخَتْ. "اِكْتُبِ الخاتِمَةَ!"
"Zaidi!" alipiga kelele. "Andika hitimisho!"
"Stronger!" she screamed. "Write the ending!"
ثَدْياها الثَّقيلانِ يَرْتَجِفانِ. جَسَدُها المُمْتَلِئُ يَتَمَوَّجُ كَالبَحْرِ.
Matiti yake mazito yalitetemeka. Mwili wake uliojaa uliyumba kama bahari.
Her heavy breasts trembled. Her full body undulated like the sea.
وَصَلا إلى الذُّرْوَةِ مَعاً. سَكَبَ حِبْرَهُ داخِلَها كَشاعِرٍ يُنْهي قَصيدَتَهُ.
Walifikia kilele pamoja. Alimwaga wino wake ndani yake kama mshairi anapokamilisha shairi lake.
They reached the climax together. He poured his ink inside her like a poet finishing his poem.
الخاتِمَة
Hitimisho
Epilogue
جَمَعَ بَشيرُ أَغانِيَ كَثيرَةً مِنْ مامْبْروي، لَكِنَّ أَجْمَلَ قَصيدَةٍ كَتَبَها لَمْ تُنْشَرْ أَبَداً.
Bashir alikusanya nyimbo nyingi kutoka Mambrui, lakini shairi zuri zaidi aliloliandika halikuchapishwa kamwe.
Bashir collected many songs from Mambrui, but the most beautiful poem he wrote was never published.
وَيُقالُ إنَّ مِلْحَ مامْبْروي أَصْبَحَ أَلَذَّ مِلْحٍ في السّاحِلِ، لِأَنَّ فيهِ نَكْهَةً سِرِّيَّةً لا يَعْرِفُها إلّا الشُّعَراءُ.
Na inasemekana kwamba chumvi ya Mambrui ikawa kitamu zaidi katika pwani, kwa sababu ina ladha ya siri ambayo washairi tu wanaijua.
And it is said that Mambrui salt became the tastiest salt on the coast, for it has a secret flavor that only poets know.
انْتَهَتِ القِصَّة | Mwisho wa Hadithi | The End