Canciones del Poblado y del Exilio – Agnès Agboton – Gen

1.

Filé, dé échikpodi 

ganmè nonté. 

Filé, dé yé djó ayigbadó 

bódó yidó, 

san avó tègbè 

na onun linlin tata 

kpodó ahuanganlè sin ohan kpo. 

Filé, dé echikpodi 

ohjun madó gbè. 

Filé, to fifa 

otètomè, 

n’so wamon 

nun pkipkon sisiendé 

nunkun gbigba délèton, 

n’wa sé odhè sinsin sin hodélè

N’wamon ogbè pkèdé.

Songs of Village and of Exile – Agnès Agboton – Translated by Lawrence Schimel

1.

Here, where time seems 

to have stopped. 

Here, where the land 

is abandoned, 

sacrificed daily 

to useless memories 

and heroic songs. 

Here, where blood 

seems fruitless. 

Here, in the stillness 

of the cemetery, 

I’ve still found the steady gaze 

of crushed eyes, 

I’ve listened to the words 

of a stiffened tongue. 

I’ve glimpsed life.