Haiku in Swahili

My grateful thanks to Caleb Mutua of Nairobi, Kenya, who translated the following haiku of mine into Swahili on 10 February 2011.

low summer sun— ja la chini la kaskazi—

the shadow of an earring kivuli cha kipuli changu

on your cheek kwenye shavu lako

after the quake— baada ya tetemeko—

adding I love you kuongeza nakupenda

to a letter kwenye barua

fresh snow on the mat— theluji mbichi kwenye mkeka—

the shape of welcome muundo wa karibu

still visible bado unaonekana

after dinner mints peremende za baada ya chajio

passed round the table zazungushwa kwenye meza

. . . slow-falling snow . . . theluji inayoanguka taratibu

home for Christmas— Krismasi nyumbani

my childhood desk drawer kidawati changu cha utotoni

empty hakina kitu