Rafael Segundo Mercado Epieyü
Translated from Spanish by Andrea Echeverría
My original name is Tiko’u (Little Burning Firewood) and I am a descendant of the Epinayuu e’irukuu (clan). I am a poet and writer from Manaure (La Guajira, Colombia). In the animal world, I am the grandson of the deer and the carnivorous wasp. In the Wayuu world, my elders are Ka’iwalaachi (Sun of the golden doll), Kuluweera (Our lizard penis), Aisa’i (Cassava legs), Kachinta (Kaasha–drum–player), Iyeeka (The raw one), Kalampuuna (Calambuco), Mocho’i (One-eyed person), Perasa’i (Piece of a leg), and Kookolonshi (He who snores a lot when sleeping). Finally, I have a more recent name, Rafael Segundo Mercado Epieyu.
Nashe´in soumaajatükat waipirai
(hover mouse for english)
Sujutuin jepirachi saamatuijeerü
Nüintüle arüleechi wa´aleerü seeju iruwa jee müsüja jaipai
Süitüin juya´ shiroku paalakat aseerü wuin jemetsü jimekalüiruwa
Kayaale juyakai wuinpejeekana saamateerü mma´pa´akat wuinteerü shia
Shi´yalajüin monkolonseerü maalia´a alütshi juya´
Lakatüle kashikai müleweerü juya´
Süwanuwaale potshonoy sulu´upuna luwopukat apalanajajeerü wuin nutuma juya´.
Jee müsia tü jiyeyuukat wayuu meerüka na´in karaikana ayonnojeena sümaa nashe´in soimaajatükat waipirai, koopiai jee müsüja mouwa.
Jee müshii wayakana süka wasa´ joutaimaajatü yaleena waya na´atou sümaa neepeyuse wa´amaya süma´inru yalain sükatouse woushinuu sa´anasiasein nüliima taatchon maikü.
Wanee ayonnajaa eenajaka waya
(hover for english)
Wanee süsii alialaakat sulu´u jiettain sukuwaipa seenajain waya süpüla weeitain sünain alejeküalin waya süpüla watüjainjatüin sau sümaa eein wama´ana tü pülaa akumajia sünainjee wei Mma´, shia wanee ayonnaajaa akumajia kataa o´u sünainjee seeju süsii wumu´ulia jee müsüjaa tü seepeyuuse wuin yalakalü nümülejüin chi chinü´ükai süka tü nütüna kutuwatashaanakat.
Shi´ira tü wuchiiruwa yalakat kepiainruwa sünain sütüna wunu´u jee müsüja juluwaa, na´aya yala pütchi nutuma watuushi juya´ süpüla shipinasein jee müsüja aimajia wien Mma´.
Tü kataakalü o´u wamüin asonuwaasü sünainjee sa´ayulaa nanüiki naa merojukana yalakana oujulain eere eein lapü, ewe´erawashii waya wachikuwa´a süpüla yalainjanain waya süchirapa´a woushi-wei einanajünaa sünainjee sukumala sa´in kama´alitkat, yalayaa eesü süchi´ samantüin eere joojototoin joutai sünain aimajaa wa´in.
Wapushuwa´a anutpalaa muloushaana eere müin sa´in waya jiirü epinasee nu´upala watuushi Juya´.
Nüikeyuu Juya´
(hover for english)
Ayonnajattasüirua nikkeyuu Juya´
Sünainje sütünüla sirumakalüirua
Akutulajiraasü sümaajira sütünakalüirua wunu´u
Süma´inruin wiwitatain wiira wattasaalin joktai
Tü kakumalakat sukuwaipa wayeepa´a.
Akumalaasü weiran jayeechi nünainjee joktai
Akumalaasü sukuwaipa wayonain sünainje sirumakalüirua.
Author’s statement
My territory of origin is on the shores of the Caribbean Sea. My elders are fishermen and they engage in conversation before going fishing with the female spirits of the sea called puloui. Juya´, our grandfather winter, taught us about seeds and sowing, and Mma´, Earth, sustains us with her fertile womb. Water is essential for us, our bodies were woven within the water of our mothers’ wombs, we prepare our food with water, we look for fish in water, and water is our blood.
Author’s statement
My territory of origin is on the shores of the Caribbean Sea. My elders are fishermen and they engage in conversation before going fishing with the female spirits of the sea called puloui. Juya´, our grandfather winter, taught us about seeds and sowing, and Mma´, Earth, sustains us with her fertile womb. Water is essential for us, our bodies were woven within the water of our mothers’ wombs, we prepare our food with water, we look for fish in water, and water is our blood.
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