Kazakh Custom


Please come in!
Sit closer,
How are things in the village?
Is everyone healthy, alive?
Times are so hard, as if we never bother to try.
All these anxious thoughts
About the fate and the future of our land.

Take off your clothes, brave men,
Make yourselves at home,
As you would at your own home!
We are always worried
Unless old acquaintances arrive at our small home with news.

Country folks, come in!
What a pleasure, a real pleasure.
Tea is ready, all set on the table.
We don¡¯t need anything,
No presents, nothing,
Only some heartwarming news from the village!

Please help yourself–this is city food-  
Here, try this, and this as well!
*Askalal, all is fine,
Have some fruit and meat,
See for yourself what kind of food is served in a poet¡¯s home.  

We are no difference from the rest,
No better or worse than others.
Forgive me if in a flurry I stepped out of line,
I wanted to ask you about the village, about the relatives,
Please excuse me, I apologize,
But what is your name? What?...


*"Askalal" means a chief, a leader.


[Translated into English by Tatyana Bezuglova]


[ASIA receives generous support by the POSCO TJ Park Foundation.]