Paj Huam: Nuj Nplhaib tau tus npua

Nuj Nplhaib tau tus npua

Luv, ua ob ya
Ntev, puv peb thawv
Quaj hauv nruab plawv
Muab npua rau kuv

Cuam ya, ib ntag
Hlais hlo tsob thuv
Rab ntaj liab puv
Kuv pib sawv kev

Niam hais twj ywm
“Koj yog kuv cev”
Coj npua sim qhev
Mus nrhiav Maiv Ntxawm

(English)

Nu Blai Has the Pig

Short, be two pieces
Long, one more part
Crying my heart
Give me your pig.

Flying, cut it
Smashing fig twig
My sword, red, big
I have begun

Mom said apart:
“You are my son”
Take the pig, run
Find your Mai Yer

******
Hnub tim 22 lub 3 hlis ntuj xyoo 2022
March 22, 2022

Translated from Hmong by the author herself.
The author has used the Cambodian poetic structure "Pathya Vat" to write this poem.

Picture: Credit to eatalllot: thttps://www.deviantart.com/eatalllot/art/Hmong-Folk-Story-panel-3-Nu-Blai-vs-Tiger-577728853

Inspiration: Dr. Kao-Ly Yang draws deeply from Hmong oral literature in her poetic work. This poem evokes Nu Blai’s longing for vengeance upon learning that his beloved, Mai Yer, had married a tiger while he was away earning money for their wedding. He asked his mother’s permission to slaughter the pig she had carefully raised for the New Year celebration. With his sword newly sharpened, he sought to test its edge—whether it would be keen enough to strike down the tiger.