Ngawarra-kurlu

Warlpiri

NGAWARRA-KURLU

Yimi yirrarnu Nancy Oldfield Napurrurlarlu Kuruwarri kujurnu Nelson Peters Jakamarrarlu

© 1988 YUENDUMU B.R.D.U. ISBN NO. 0 8751 248 2

Yapa-patu kalalu nyinaja kirringka karrungka

wiringka. Purlka jintalpa jarda ngunaja yujukurla.

Mungangka purlkaju jukurrpa ngunaja ngapa wiri-kirli

ngula-jana kangu panu yapa.

Parra-pardijalku. Purlkangkuju-nyanu nalija manu

mangarri purraja. Ngarninjarla-jana yanu

ngarrirninjaku yapaku, warlalja-patuku

ngawarra-kujaku.

Yamparruju, yanurla kaja-nyanuku.

Wangkarla,

"Ngajurna jukurrparlu nyangu jalangurlu

mungangkarlu. Ngapa wiri kapu yanirni.

Yantalu karru-ngurlu pirntinyarra-kurra

ngawarra-kujaku."

"Lawa, ngapa-wangurla karnalu nyina

mangkurdu-wangurla."

Ngula-jangka yanurla yuntal-nyanuku.

Wangkajarla,

"Ngajurna jukurrparlu nyangu jalangurlu

mungangkarlu. Ngapa wiri kapu yanirni.

Yantalu karru-ngurlu pirntinyarra-kurra

ngawarra-kujaku."

"Lawa, ngapa-wangurla karnalu nyina,

mangkurdu-wangurla."

Ngula-jangka, yanurla kukurnu-nyanuku.

Wangkarla,

"Ngajurna jukurrparlu nyangu jalangurlu

mungangkarlu. Ngapa wiri kapu yanirni.

Yantalu karru-ngurlu pirntinyarra-kurra

ngawarra-kujaku."

"Lawa, ngapa-wangurla karnarlu nyina,

mangkurdu-wangurla."

-Ngula-jangka, yanurla ngawurru-nyanuku.

Wangkarla,

"Ngajurna jukurrparlu nyangu jalangurlu

mungangkarlu. Ngapa wiri kapu yanirni.

Yantarlu karru-ngurlu pirntinyarra-kurra,

ngawarra-kujaku."

"Lawa, ngapa-wangurla karnalu nyina,

mangkurdu-wangurla."

Ngula-jangka purlka-parduju yanu pina

ngurra-kurra murlarrpa-nyayirni.

Manu jurnarrpa. Yanu wurnturu nyanunguku

purdangka-kurra. Yapalu nyangu purlka-pardu

murlarrpa. Payurnulu,

"Nyiya-jangka kanpa nyina murlarrpa?"

Purlka wangkaja,

"Ngapa wiri kapu yanirni. Jukurrparlurna nyangu.

Ngaju-nyangu-paturlu kurdungku kulajulu

Ngula-jangka munga-jarrijajalku.

Ngunajalkulpalu jarda karrungka-juku. Kujalpalu

waparlku ngunaja, ngapangku mangkurdu kuju-kujurnu

mungangkarlu-juku. Ngapa wirilki wantija wurnturu.

Ngula-jangka-jana ngawarra jangkardurnu

yanurnu.

Puta-jana kangu yapa. Parnkajalu lani

pirntinyarra-kurra. Mangarri manu jurnarrpa-jana

kangu jurnta ngapangkuju.

Mungalyurru purlka-pardu pina yanu

karru-kurra nyanjaku. Kula-jana nyangu yapa

karrungka. Ngula-jangka nyangu yulyurdu

pirntinyarrarla. Yimi ngarrurnulu kuja-jana jurnta

kangu mangarri manu nyiya-kanti-kanti ngawarrarlu.

Yapa-patulpalu yulaja mari jurnarrpa-ngurlu.

Junga-jukulpa wangkaja purlkaju, ngula nyangu

jukurrpa, wiyarrpa.

The Flood

English translation by Nelson Jakamarra Peters.

A long time ago people used to live in the creek beds. One old man was sleeping in his humpy. At night he had a dream that it would rain and make a big flood and take away many people. Then in the morning he cooked himself tea and damper. After eating he went out to tell his family that there would be a big flood.

First he went to his son and talked to him.

I have seen in my dream that there will be a big flood soon. Go away from this creek to the high ground, away from the flood."

"No, there is no rain coming. There are no clouds. So we are staying here." His son didn't listen at all.

Next he went over to his daughter to talk to her.

"I had a dream last night that there will be a big rain and flood soon. Go away from this creek to the high ground, away from the flood."

"No, there is no rain coming. There are no clouds. So we are staying here. His daughter didn't listen to him at all.

Then he went over to his younger brother to talk to him.

I had a dream last night about a big rain and flood. Go away from this creek to the high ground away from the flood."

" No, there is no rain coming. There are no clouds. So we are staying here." The younger brother didn't listen to him at all.

Then he went over to his younger sister to talk to her.

."I had a dream that there will be a big flood coming soon. Go away from this creek to the hills, away from the flood."

"No, there is no rain coming. There are no clouds. So we are staying here." His sister didn't listen to him at all.

So the old man went back to his camp feeling so upset. He then picked up all his things and went far away where his other brother was. Other people saw him coming and asked him,

"What's the matter? Why are you looking so sad?"

Then the old man said, "There is a big rain coming. I've seen it in my dream. I told my family about the flood but they wouldn't listen at all."

That night the people were sleeping in the creek bed and while they were sleeping, they didn't know the rain was coming. During the night the clouds came up. It rained a long way up the creek. The flood came while people were still sleeping. Some were almost taken away. They ran frightened to the high ground. The flood took away all the food and everything that was in the camp. There was nothing left of it.

Then next day the old man went back to the creek bed to have a look and he didn't see anyone there. Then he looked around. He could see the smoke on the hill. The people told him what had happened to their food and and all their things they lost in the flood. People were crying for their things they lost during the flood.

So it was true, what the old man had told the people what he had seen in a dream.

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