Chimamanda, the Hibiscus in the Rainbow in English and Spanish

Chimamanda, weaver of the words of the rainbow
Even Pa Chinua Achebe talks of you with glints in his eyes
You have hung on the lips of Grandma Adichie in the moonlight
As she wove us fables from her wisdom tooth.
God has touched the lips of your mouth
And told you to bask in the sunlight.

Our elders have gone for the Indaba
We stood on the kopje Kopki
Chima and Chimamanda
She spoke clicking her tongue.
“Will you come to dance the Samba?”
“I love the dance with the Rumba.”
“The Rumba and the Marimba.”
She was picking the “Purple Hibiscus”
I played with the butterflies.
“Chimamanda, tell me another story.”
“Okay. I will tell you about the “Half Of A Yellow Sun”
“And I will tell you about the “Son of a Gun.”
As there is no history without glory.

Chimamanda, El Hibisco En El Arco iris

Chimamanda, el tejedor de las palabras del arco iris Aún discursos de Pa Chinua Achebe de usted con destellos en sus ojos que
Usted ha colgado en los labios de Abuelita Adichie en la luz de la luna Como ella nos tejió fábulas de la muela del juicio.
Dios ha tocado los labios de la boca Y le dijo asolearse en la luz del sol.

Nuestros ancianos han ido para el Indaba que Nosotros nos paramos en la colina Kopki Chima y Chimamanda que
Ella habló haciendo clic la lengua. “Usted vendrá a bailar la Samba?” “adoro el baile con el Rumba.” “La Rumba
y el Marimba.” Ella escogía el “Hibisco Púrpura” jugué con las mariposas. “Chimamanda, me dice otro cuento.”
“Bueno. Yo le diré acerca del “la Mitad De UN Sol Amarillo” “Y diré usted acerca del “Hijo de un Fusil.” Como
no hay historia sin la gloria.


~ By Orikinla Osinachi, from Scarlet Tears of London, the first Nigerian collection of poems translated into Spanish and Distributed worldwide by Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other international booksellers. The poems are rated among the greatest poems in English.
PS: I have never allowed Chimamanda to see this poem since I composed it 9 years ago.



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