She comes from far away
Tagalakoy
She walks barefoot
Tagalakoy
She braves the heat
Tagalakoy
She comes from far away
She braves hunger
Tagalakoy
Tagalakoy! Tagalakoy!
Your shoulders bruised
Every day a little more
Bending towards the sand
This fine sand that you sell
To cool our huts
Tagalakoy! Tagalakoy!
You come from far away
Tell these perfumed women
Tell them
Tagalakoy!
Tell these harpies
That with this wooden pole
That bites into your shoulders
Tell them that you struggle for them!
Adamou Idé (born 1951) Niger
Translated by Irene Waggener
Source: Scottish Poetry Library
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