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P a u z a
The Last Photo
by Meg Pierce, Mak-9, Gostivar
Nene, nene, oh where has she gone?
I can't help hearing the hurt in his song.
Asking nene, nene, ku ajo shkon?
The sorrow-filled voice of her two-year-old son.
I knew you so briefly, but I'll remember you long.
For I captured you smiling in the light of the sun.
I snapped the last photo before you were gone,
Smiling and posing with your son in your arms.
When I came to this country such a short time ago
I found here a family, though I didn't know
The words for friendship or the language to show
I am grateful for sharing the highs and the lows.
I thought there'd be time for our friendship to grow.
But now all I've got is this single photo.
This song is
dedicated to my
host sister Zenepe,
who passed away
January 5, 2005
Moter, moter, oh where have you gone?
I can't help hearing the pain in their song
Singing moter, moter, ku ajo shkon?
Sorrow and tears for our sister so young.
Yet somehow I'm lucky to have something to give
This moment I captured for those who still live.
When the clearness of memories begins to fade
We can look back and remember that day.
The rare afternoon when I came and I saved
The face of a mother now in her grave.
I don't know the words to tell how you'll be missed
But I feel it so strongly in the old woman's kiss
As she clenches your picture, her eyes full of mist
Believing that somewhere you still exist.
Vajza, vajza, oh where have you gone?
I can't help hearing the pain in her song.
Singing vajza, vajza ku ajo shkon?
The tears of a mother for one of her young.
(This song is dedicated to my host sister Zenepe, who passed away January 5, 2005)
nene - mother moter - sister
vajza - daughter ku ajo shkon? - where is she going?
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