Daughter Of A Bandit Poem by Robert Abok

Early morning as I awaken to the sight of 'Chieng' the sun
He is seated next to 'dero' the granary smoking.
The soot of 'nyasore' the cigarette pollutes his mind.
All he sees are 'dhok' the cattle that he could own if he would sell me away to 'jaduong' the old man.

He says school is no place for witty women,
That's why he calls me 'Ariek' the wise one.
My place is in the 'kendo' the kitchen and 'kachiena' the bedroom.
His amateurish 'lep' the tongue has massacred 'lek' my dream,
Slashed in its tender age and aspiration I bid adieu.

'Sigu' my jealous brother,
Claims it's improper to empower 'nyako' the girl,
They go away with everything like 'Ogwang' the mongoose.
With grief and distress 'Minwa' my mother consoles me as I ask 'Why Mama? '
Why this robbery of 'chenro' my plans that I had in mind?
'It's the fault of Nyiseche the gods 'Nyara' my daughter.' Mama says

It will be over soon,
When the winds of 'lokruok, ' winds of change will hover in our favour, 'Minwa' continues,
When they will realize how full of 'rieko' for wisdom we 'Mon' the women are.
But until then 'nyara' my daughter, you are and always will be the daughter of 'Jakuo' the bandit.