“Earth Day” poems: Aqqaluk Lynge

Posted: April 22, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: A FEW FAVOURITES / UNA MUESTRA DE FAVORITOS, Aqqaluk Lynge, English, Kalaallisut (Greenlandic) | Comments Off on “Earth Day” poems: Aqqaluk Lynge

 

Aqqaluk Lynge is a Kalaallit (Greenland Inuit) poet who writes

in the Kalaallisut (Greenlandic) language – closely related to the Inuktitut

language of the Canadian Arctic.

The poems below were translated into English

by Ken Norris and Marianne Stenbaek, with the poet.

_____

 

A Life of Respect

 

 

In the old days

when we still lived our own lives

in our own country

We could hear

a faraway thunder –

the caribou approaching

two or three days in advance

*

Then we did not count the animals, but knew

that when the caribou herd arrived

it would be seven days

before all the animals crossed the river

We did not count them

We had no quotas

We knew only

that a child’s weeping

or a seagull’s cry

could frighten the animals away

*

Then we knew

that there is a balance

between the animals and us,

lives of mutual respect

*

Now it is as if we are under arrest

the wardens are everywhere

We are interrogated constantly.

In Your hungering after more riches and land

You make us suspect,

force us to justify our existence

*

On maps of the country

We must draw points and lines

to show we have been here –

and are here today,

here where the foxes run

and birds nest

and the fish spawn

*

You circumscribe everything

demand that we prove

We exist,

that We use the land that was always ours,

that We have a right to our ancestral lands

*

And now it is We who ask:

By what right are You here?

 

_____

 

Ataqqeqatigiittut

 

 

Qanga – ila qanga

nammineq inuugallaratta

uagut nammineq nunatsinni

Taamani tusartarpagut

avani qannguluk

ullut pingasut sioqqullugit

tuttorpaat ingerlaarnerat

*

Qanga – taamani

kisitsineq atunngilaq

nalunngittuarparpulli

ullut unnuallu arfineq-marluk

qaangiuppata

kuuk ikaareersimassagaat.

*

Pisassavut nalunngilavut

ilisimavarpullu malussarissup

tusassagaa meeqqap qiarpalua

naajannguulluunniit qarlorpalua

*

Qanga – taamani

suna tamarmi

naammattusaarineruvoq

ataqqeqatigiilluta

uumasut uagullu

*

Ullumikkulli tigusatut inuuvugut

sissuertut sumut pigaanni

qalliuniartut pasivaatigut

unnerluussatullu killisiorluta

*

Nuna assiliorpaat

uanngaanniit uunga titarlugu

aana killissaa

aana ilissi aana uagut

Tuttut uaniipput

aaku timmissat

aamma aaku aalisakkat

*

Suna tamaat killormut pivaat

uagutsinnullu uppernarsaqqullugu

apeqquserlugulu

ilumut inuusugut

nunalu tummaarigipput

*

Ataqqeqatigiittut aaku kisimik

uagut uumasullu.

 

 

 

We listen to the Elders

 

 

I meet him on the land

goose-hunting

Today is Sunday, he says,

No-one is allowed to shoot

That’s what the Elders say

And we listen to the Elders…

sometimes.

*

A flock of geese is coming

fighting against the wind

He takes a rifle

and shoots at them

One falls to the ground

the others fly away

– Well, it is Sunday

*

A flock of ptarmigans

jumps in a circle around us

no cries are heard

They are afraid, the elder says,

the owls are out hunting

and the ptarmigans seek protection among Men

– so We don’t hunt Them,

that’s what the Elders say.

And We listen to the Elders…

sometimes.

 

_____

 

Utoqqartavut naalattarpavut

 

 

Nunap timaani naapippara nerlerniaq

– utoqqartatta oqaappaatigut

“Ullumi sapaat

taamaammat aallaaniassanngilagut”

Utoqqaammi oqartapata

naalattarpavut – ilaanni

*

Nerlerpaaluit assorlutik timmisut qulaappaatigut

aallaaniap timmiarsiunni kiviinnaqaa

ummiullugillu

seqqoqaaq

ataasersuaq nakkaqaaq

sinneri ingerlaannarput

– ullumi sapaat

*

Aqisserpalaaq tusiuppoq

eqqannguatsinnut mipput

kaavillutalu

Utoqqartarput pilerpoq

“Aqissit uppinnit piniarneqartillutik

inunnut qimaasaramik

Nujuillisaaraangata

aallaaiarneq ajorpavut”

Utoqqaammi oqarpata

naalaattarpavut – ilaanni

 

_____