Speak Your Roots

Category: Poetry

  • Ki Sur Poitri da Dameshwa Rymbai

    KI SUR POITRI NA THWEI PYRKHAT,

    KHULOM BA KHLEI HA KOT SADA.

    SAWAR JINGSHEMPHANG JINGSTAD;

    HA KI JINGTHOH KI PAW SHYNNA.

    KI KHANA IA JINGMUT BA KI KTIK,

    HA THWEI JINGMUT BAN PYNWANDUR;

    LA KYOH MYNTHI NE KABA BEIT THIK,

    NE HA KI KYNTIEN SHISUR SHIDUR.

    KI SUR POITRI IA MYNSIEM KI SYRPUD,

    KIBA KTIK IA JINGMUT JINGPYRKHAT.

    KIBA PYNUM WAT IA KA DOHNUD,

    KI NIAD RUH WAT IA KI UMMAT.

    HA BAROH KI NONGTHOH POITRI,

    DA KANE NGA AINAM AIBUROM.

    IAI BTENG IA KA JINGTREI JONG PHI,

    DA KI SYMBOH KYNTIEN DA U KHULOM.

    Ki symboh pyrkhat shaphang ka thoh poitri da i @damechwarymbai410 😄✒️📝 Lada don kiba nang ban thoh te katno ka jingsngewtynnat bad sngew thiang ka mynsiem ✨✨

    Khublei Shibun @damechwarymbai410 ba phi lah tag ïa ka page! 🙏🙏

  • “Mei” da Phuibirui

    Ka jingieid ba nyngkong phi ai ha nga,

    Ngan iai bat skhem baroh shyrta,

    Hapdeng ki jingeh ba bun,

    Phim ju ieh iala ki khun.

    Bunsien haba kut ki lad,

    Phim lah khlem da jaw ummat,

    Na ki khun phi kwah buhrieh,

    Phim kwah ia ki ban sngewsih.

    Ka pang ka shitom phim ju kheiñ,

    Ban biang ki khun phi kwah eh keiñ,

    U Blei un don ryngkat bad phi,

    Lynter ki sngi jingim jong phi.

    Ktien sneng ktien kraw jong phi Mei,

    Ngan ym shem ha sla pyrthei,

    Ka mynsiem jong nga ka hun,

    Ngan burom ia phi kum ka khun.

    Phi long ka nongsaiñdur ia ka jingim,

    Bad ruh ka nong ai mynsiem,

    Ngam shem shuh kum ma phi Mei,

    Ka jingieid phi theh sei.

    "Mei" or mother is an original Khasi poem written by @sur__nalade 💜💜 A mother is love, she is timeless and priceless!

    Khublei Shibun @sur__nalade ba phi la phah ïa kane ka poitri jong phi! 😃🙏

  • Ka Sngi Burom Ïa Ki Kynthei da Ibakyrmen Sohtun

    Ka sngi burom ïa ki kynthei

    Kumno ngan klet ïaphi keiñ Mei

    Ka sneng ka khraw phi theh kyrhai

    Ki long kham khraw ban ïa ki sbai

    Watla i pa i ieh khunswet

    Hynrei phim riej ban tur shaphrang

    Phi hikai jingstad ngin thwet

    Bad ba ngin nang kiew shaphrang

    Phi long ka riewkynthei ba shemphang

    Jingeh baroh phi thom naphang

    Ban ngin bit ba ngin biang

    Phi shah jingeh haban da biang

    Tarajur jingieid bym noh shiliang

    Hapdeng shipara phi hikai biang biang

    Kumno ba ngin ïa ieid markylliang

    Watla ngi long ki kup ki sem shiliang

    Haba nga ur phi khyllie ianga

    Haba nga iam phi khroh ianga

    Haba nga saitlah phi sneng ianga

    Haba nga kmen phi kmen bad nga

    Daei kein mei ngan siew kylliang

    Ia jingieid jingbha jong phi

    La ngin wad sawdong pyrthei

    Ngam Shem shuh jingieid Kum

    Jong phi Mei

    Khublei ko Mei Khublei

    Nang ioh kyrhai ki jingkyrkhu

    Nang im shongprah shongshang

    Nang ïai long nuksa babha iakiwei

    KHUBLEI ko MEI BAIEID

    -Ibakyrmen Sohtun

    Ngi la ïoh sa kawei ka jingthoh poitri shaphang ka kmie kaba la thoh @i_b_a_r_i_e_s 😄 Khublei Shibun @i_b_a_r_i_e_s ba phi la phah ïa ka jingthoh kaba sngew ieit bad sngew myllung ❤️❤️

  • Ka Por Kristmas da i Occyliana M. Syiemiong

    Ki jingpynkhreh kyrpang baroh.

    Naduh najrong haduh hapoh;

    Habar ka ïing lynti syngkein

    Thaba ki rong i phuh i phieng.

    Bun jingbakla dei ban pynbeit,

    Jingmut Kristmas la kum u kbeit;

    Shu her sha suiñ khlem hiar sha tbian,

    Sngew tang rong phong katta la biang.

    Phewse! Kristmas dei ka jingieit,

    Mynsiem pynbeit ba kan suh thied,

    B'u Khrist hangta Un sa wan hiar,

    Ki Jingkyrkhu kin sa tawiar.

    Ka por Khristmas dei por jingkmen,

    Jinglehsynei samla tymmen;

    Hangne baroh ba ïa kmen lang,

    Ka ding jingieit to ai kan klang.

    Khristmas basuk Khristmas bakmen,

    Mynsiem to ai ba kan shong tngen;

    Ki jingkyrkhu kyrhai to shim,

    Khristmas to ai ha ngi kan im.

    -Occyliana Mary Syiemïong

    "Ka Por Khristmas" ("The Time of Christmas") is an original Khasi poem written by @occyliana_ 🌲❄️🎄 Khublei Shibun ba phi la phah ïa ka jingthoh jong phi kaba kren ïa ka jingshisha ba donkam. 🙏🙏

  • U Khraw Pyrkhat da i Daohi Manar

    U KHRAW PYRKHAT

    – A poem honouring the life of U Soso Tham by Da0hi Manar

    Namar,

    "Kama ka ap haba la than eh ka suk"

    Bad la pyrdaiñ ruh shah teh mraw-

    Lada ngim len lade, ngim kyndit bynriew.

    Ynnai jingstad pyrthei,

    Lada lajong ngim tip ei ei;

    Ban long ba shemphang, ban thom ki jingeh,

    Ï'u khasi-khara, U da hikai ban shlur ïaleh.

    Ym tang katta,

    Dei na ka pyrkhat bakhraw,

    U thylleij ba pnah,

    Ki kyntien ba kordor,

    Ki lynghoh kti bakhlaiñ,

    Ka sap ba kyrpang,

    Ka nongrim ba skhem,

    ba sa lah ban sei waitlam – U Khulom Ksiar.

    Waitlam ba lah ban thwat lynti

    U long kum khlur ha ngi!

    Im ka kyrteng ha 'Duitara Ksiar',

    'Phawer u Aesop' bad'

    'Ki sngi barim u Hynniew-trep'

    La haka sneng ka kraw,

    Ka kyntu-kynpham,

    Ki kyntien shongsbai nylla,

    Ki symboh pyrkhat;

    Ki jinghikai – U KHRAW PYRKHAT.

    Longdien ban tang pyrto la nam kin burom,

    Bad ki matti kin nang ïai neh junom.

    Ha kane ka taïew baroh shi taïew ngi la ïoh ki poitri ba pher ba pher. Mynta ka sngi, ka 18 tarik u Nohprah, kaba dei ka lyngkhuh sngi ïap jong u myllung Soso Tham, ngin sah dak ïa ka poitri "U Khraw Pyrkhat" ba la thoh da u @xdtnoahjupejackllthmanar ✍️📖
    Khublei Chibōn Daohi wa phah phi ya ka poitri yong phi! 🙏🙏

    @xdtnoahjupejackllthmanar says: "U Khraw Pyrkhat" —A poem honouring the life of U Soso Tham is an ode. The poem talks about the work, dedication and the love of u Soso Tham for the Khasi-Jaiñtia community, U khun Hynñiew trep-Hynñiew skum. Meghalaya's greatest poet has tremendously contributed and dedicated his life to the needs of society.
    It isn't easy to write or to compose something about the life of a great personality and an excellent poet. I take at least 4 hours to really get into his life and present this poem to the world. I examine each word and I read aloud to make sure that readers can have a better understanding.
    At first, I thought of writing this poem in a bilingual style like I usually do. Yet, on second thought I chose to compose the poem in the way in which I think it needs to be told. The choice of language answers the second question. Hence, the Khasi language is used, the language in which my voice speaks best.
    "Namar" translates to "because" is the opening word of a poem. It represents the second line of the first stanza, the lines which U Soso Tham himself says, "Ka ma ka ap haba la than eh ka suk" these lines forge an immediate emotional connection to invoke the thematic intentions of the poem, and give an insight into my writing style.
    Soso tham was a great inspiration for many of the Khasis and Jaiñtias. We have been taught to choose the mightiest weapon – "U khulom", "the pen". Having said that, if you could recall from one of his poems the lines which say "Ïeng samla ha ka thoh kot" U Soso Tham never wanted us to "bud tynneng" , to not be brave. He taught us the true meaning of life, knowledge and wisdom, honest and trustworthy. He encourages us to hold on to our roots with pride and dignity and to stand firm "ha la ki jong ki kjat".

  • Myllung Ka Ri da i Dameshwa Rymbai

    Myllung Ka Ri

    Na Ri ki lyoh bad ki kshaid.

    Ka shnong ba la bna nam.

    U Khun phrangsngi u mih,

    Jong I Hat Tongper, I Lyngkien Tham.

    Khun shynrang marwei bad ba lai,

    Kumba la thoh shun U Blei najrong,

    H'u khatphra spah hynniew phew lai.

    U kit ryngkat ka sap ka phong.

    U nonghikai ba kat u nonghikai

    Ia ktien khasi ban kyntiew nam.

    Synniang kham kordor ia ki sbai,

    Haduh mynta ki dang kren jam!

    U khulom ksiar bad ka sia jingstad.

    Uba dang iai pruid haduh mynta.

    Kyntien kum waitlam kaba prat,

    Ki sei shibun ki riewkhraw na jylla

    Ah! Lada long da u Mahon-mala,

    Ba pynkup burom ia phi myllung

    Burom jong phi la kat u patsha,

    Uba kit ka jingstad shi khung.

    Ah! Ei ban bteng ia lyngkor jong phi,

    Ki ktien jingstad ba tei imlang sahlang

    Ban pynneh, pynjanai ia ktien khasi,

    Shaei ki samla, ki thei bad ki rang?

    Hato ngin shu kut tang ka khana,

    Shaphang U myllung ba khraw ka Ri?

    Mano ban leit wad mawlynnai mawhira

    Jinghikai kiba Myllung u hikai ia ngi.

    Ban shu kut tang ha ka jingpule,

    la ki jingthoh ba kit symboh jingstad.

    Donkam ia ngi ba ngin da sule.

    Ha man la ki khep, haba plie ka lad.

    – Dameshwa Rymbai

    Sa kawei ka jingthoh poitri ban kynmaw ïa ka lyngkhuh sngi ïap jong u myllung Soso Tham mynta ka sngi ka dei "Myllung ka Ri" ba la thoh da i @damechwarymbai410 📖✍️

    Sa shisien phi la phah ïa ki jingthoh ba shoh jingmut, ba shoh mynsiem. Khublei Shibun! 🙏🙏

    #usosotham #sosothamdeathanniversary #khasipoetry #khasiliterature #khasipoetryintranslation #speakyourroots #speakyourrootschallenge #talklocal

  • “Ka La’er Tlang” da i Manhaoo Paswet

    Ka la'er wa daitthah ka la'er tlang,

    I khyndaw da raw, da sdang u pdang,

    Ka la'er yei mynsien wa pyn ka-it,

    Ha pyrdi i kjam kawa pynchong chit.

    Soodong talawiar ha i tpai diñ,

    I ngiah i jrem heite da stiñ,

    Wa ya wyr-ngia ya klam khana,

    Ki parom wa pher ki khana danda.

    Chi iung chi sem chi lok chi jor,

    Harood i tpai diñ kaini i por,

    Wa'u kcchu tungtoh hajrong mookhuri,

    Da'u bang ja bha du nei rukom bih.

    Kynmoo u pyrkhat heiwon u pynlut yei por,

    Wa ki wa ha iung ha sem ki lok ki jor,

    Kamwa tyllung ki por wa ki samoi,

    Symboi ya mylliñ i yeiwa kordor wa myntoi.

    -Manhaoo Paswet

    "Ka La'er Tlang" toh ka poitri Pnar wa da thoh da u @wisu_02
    Khublei Chibōn wa phah phi ya kani ka poitri yong phi 🙏 iwa ya toh wa i por kjam, por bam tungtoh 😄😋

    Ym em de ha pyrthai kat i tlang ha yung wa ha chnong yong i ❤️❄️🏞️

  • Ka Por da Naomi C. Nonglait

    "La biang katto," ka ong ka por,

    Haba u briew la lut ka bor,

    Jingim la ïaid man la ka sngi,

    Mynta la poi te sha sepngi.

    Ani! To ap shuwa ko por,

    Balei pha sei ïa la ka bor?

    Jingim ban shim noh hi bran bran,

    Ngim pat sngewthuh kumno ban san.

    Bunsien ngi beh ïa la ka kam,

    Ngi klet ïa kiba ngi ieid tam,

    Ngi ai pynban ka por kordor,

    Sha kita kiba shet shukor.

    Ki thaba ha ki khmat jong ngi

    Ki pynthame man la ka sngi,

    Khmih ko samla ïa ka lynti

    Ïoh dier noh pat ka por jong phi!

    "Ka Por" (Time) is an original Khasi poem by @carey_lynz who is a teacher and scholar 🤗❤️ Khublei Shibun @carey_lynz ba phi la phah ïa ka poitri jong phi kaba long ka jingpynkynmaw ba kordor 🕯️🪞🕜

    @carey_lynz says about the poem: "Time is a gift and yet a curse to one who does not know how to use it. This poem expresses how time can run out when we are in the rat race of becoming, or achieving or doing things which may not matter. But, while we hanker after the things of this world, they may not be important in another time as we may have lost our focus. For instance, if it is family it is not that we have forgotten them, but it is acts of thoughtfulness like making a phone call or saying kind words that makes a difference. Sometimes we need to look at the bigger picture beyond misunderstandings which may ultimately cost regret and pain. The poem issues a warning of the choices made or the path taken."

    Dr. Naomi C. Nonglait is an Associate Professor in the Department of English,
    St. Mary's College, Shillong, Meghalaya.

  • “Ki kti wad jingsyaid…” da Daiarisa Rumnong (Haiku)

    Ki kti wad jingsyaid

    ïa ding saw kyrkhu arti,

    sla kyrthop ki hap.

    – Daiarisa

    Hands searching for warmth,

    bless a fire with joined hands,

    a ragged leaf falls.

    – Daiarisa

    Ka haiku ka dei ka rukom thoh poitri kaba na ka ri Japan. Katba ngi wad jingsyaid ha kane ka tlang, ngin pyni ïa ka jingieit jong ngi ïa ka mariang bad ka meiramew, katba ka dang khih dang syar ban thaw thymmai ïalade 🌄🏞️🍃🌨️

    A haiku is a Japanese verse form of three unrhymed lines, of five, seven and five syllables. A haiku often features an image, or a pair of images, meant to depict the essence of a specific moment in time.

    Haiku poems are primarily used to express feelings about Nature. Traditional poems dealt with themes like time, nature, emotions and so on. They are meant as words of enlightenment for the readers.

    Despite its many adaptions into multiple languages and styles, the haiku remains a powerful form due to its economic use of language to evoke a specific mood or instance. Most often occurring in the present tense, a haiku frequently depicts a moment by using pair of distinct images working in tandem.

    Haikus written by @daia.risa

  • “Mylliem” by Esther Syiem

    Village of my ancestors

    secure in your remoteness

    where your men stoke their forges

    under makeshift shelters;

    shacks of molten fire that

    spark with the energy of limbs that

    strike…hit…strike..

    in an echoing canvas of sound and silence

    that will always lead me back to my distant beginnings.

    Mylliem of my ancestors

    your smithies have endured

    the treacheries of wind and rain

    your flames lick

    the shimmering cold, as they

    condense in vapours of liquid heat.

    You are the mirage,

    locked in metal.

    Must I turn to you again?

    as in your men and in your women

    I find an answering call

    in the aroma of smoked earth in them

    and in the unbeaten slant of a life

    that writes itself back into my present.

    -Esther Syiem

    Mylliem is a hamlet in East Khasi Hills, famous for its iron smelting works.

    "Mylliem" is an original Khasi poem by Dr. Esther Syiem @meiithei which appears in the collection entitled Oral Scriptings (Writers Workshop, Kolkata, 2005).

    If you are from Mylliem or have lived there, you will find that the poem is an evocative mix of the sounds and images from the village of Mylliem which we now don't hear anymore. Gone are the days when the strikes of the blacksmiths were a reassuring pace of the passing of life. But we are never rid of our memories. These sounds and images return to fill our dreams and our stories. ✍️✍️🗣️🗣️

    Dr. Esther Syiem is a professor in the Department of English, North-Eastern Hill University.