Nomo stap long taon

Two poems by KALI VATOKO and ALBERT LEOMALA (in collaboration)

Nomo stap long taon (Give up the town)

Long bifo barata Yumi no stap tingting Be naoia, luk aot barata Yumi tu mas tingting Bifo yu stap long vilij Naoia yu stap long taon Vilij i kut long yu Taon i no kut long yu Olsem wonem yu lakem taon Taon I blong waitman Vilij I blong you barata Sorry long yu U kam back barata Kam bak long vilij Papa mo mama tufala stap weij.

Papa mo Mama tufala stap weij.

Before brother We never thought But now beware We must think You used to live in a village Now you live in the town The village is good for you The town is not good for you Why do you like the town The town is for the whiteman The village is for you brother Shame on you Come back brother Come back to the village Come and see us Papa and mama are always waiting.

Mi stap sori nomo (/ bow in sorrow)

U ting se U u masta Mi mi boe Taem mi rong U kikim as blong mi Mi krae forom papa mo mama Pe wea horn i long wei Mi stap sori nomo Niuhebridis blong hu Nuvelsebrid blong hu V u waet Mi mi blak Wes we U rabem papa no mama Nacia u wandem rabem mi Mi wandem kasem u Pe laki blong u U wet tuturani Mi mi man pies Mi laikem Niuhebridis Nuvelsebrid blong mi Samtaem laki Bambae mi kikim as blong u Mi stap sori nomo

You think that You are the boss 1 am the servant When I do things wrongly You boot my arse I yell for my parents But home is far away I bow in sorrow Who owns the New Hebrides Who owns Nouvelles Hebrides You are white I am black So what You cheated my parents Now you also want to cheat me I want to catch you (red handed) But I haven’t got a chance You wait whiteman I belong to the land I love the New Hebrides Nouvelles Hebrides is mine If chance strikes I’ll kick your arse I bow in sorrow

This Malekula carving is part of the decoration in Vila's new post office.