Title: Nelanyu – I Netheba Kü Vihpu Kesho [Folk Ballad – A Girl Appreciating a Boy]

Language: Phom dialect

State: Nagaland

Submitted by Hentong Phom BA 3rd semester
English Department, Yingli College , Longleng

Nelanyu – i Netheba Kü Vihpu Kesho

A Phom (Naga) Ballad

Oh ngei bambu netheba
Nungu Yungmong shanchu mao meibu ba nya
Shi shingkao mangmao nung mon leku nyeih
He-ei ngom- ei nyujao je nu yan peih nyu

Chah- ei meibu men chu- keiha
Vangluk luk- ha thung shing ku- ao , ong-yang-ei
Ngei nung ku veishi nyu nyeih

Me hem ngei nung ponghen shang
Ngelei chuteih mongshang mong nyoshem mei nyeih
Hatü nung mu yoshei nyu – hen mong ku thei hah nyeih

Chingyang shong phung-ei ngei long tei tu peih
Shejao , nungkei meibu uao nushu…oh netheba

Nyah he nyou vaubu ngau dan shing kao
Nungei ngau he shei , shennei yong- tu pangnyeih

Oh ngei bambu netheba, nungu lapja bu yangnyu huk hih
Shejao nungei nying nyoei , mongdang- u bau my
Vungnyangbu bambu phaje-bu netheba

Noknyu pangthai shing-ei nyushing kao
Nung-u bau- my meibu veinyou hu bu nyingnyoi
Thintho meibu huk nyou

Oh ngei bambu netheba, nungu lapja bu owh-hi-ei owtu nyujao
Bau mu nung ung meibu ba nyou ,,
Nungei teih- ei kambu yong bu veishing ku-ao bau mu nung ung
Vei- nyou hu bu nyou…

Oh ngei bambu netheba,
Vangsho hatu hon muao nyeih bu ba
Ngei chingmei nung mu nyu shing ku dangnyeih
Ngei-lei laangha ong-yang-ei nung mu
Nyu-hen , bamben tung-ei thei- hah nyeih
Oh ngei bambu netheba , oh ngei bambu netheba…

English Translation

Folk Ballad – A Girl Admiring a Boy

You stand brighter than the white pippali bloom
A gentle dream i wander to each night
Even if sickness comes, we will never depart

Like the delicate spikemoss bloom
When the wind comes and goes, i long
To search for you with every glance around

When I meet you
My heavy mind and heart grows calm and
My heart longs to stay nearer with you..oh my beloved man

I have walked high and wondered low and
Still there is no one, who feels like you
My dearest one, you remain unmatched

Even when I hear the birds chirping
I swear it is your voice in their melody
So i stand still and let myself listen for you

Oh my beloved man, you live so simply
Yet in your way of being, your gentle heart lies the sweetest grace
And kindest love I’ve ever known

Even in a crowded gathering, you stand out – the most gorgeous one
Wrapped in a calm strength,.. beauty of talent
only the heart can notice

Oh my beloved man, even in a simple dress
You are the most beautiful among all
The way you walked and sit , you carry the gentlest kind of charm

Oh my beloved man , more precious than diamond and heaven
Resting in you i find my peace
My soul longs to stay beside you and love you forever
You the one my heart bows to…..

Oh my beloved man , oh my beloved man