Shela Songs
Pa Sh'te A Ay
Dava Ty Disientha
Li Tali Ali
Min'ia Kara
Theeii Rehe Northa
Pa Sh'te A Ay (I Am Home Again)
A simple Shela folk song. Its origins are unknown.
Explanatory notes: 'Eranesta' is the Shela god of journeys. 'Kasnia' is the largest of Kadreilia's moons.
| Kardii | Translation | |
|
e, i'iarumacha dteena ksii a, pa shaavcha e, pa sh'te a ay naas kanisa pa a ay |
so, I have returned after a long journey, I have come so, I am home again at the place of my birth again | |
| pa amache ksii rrinka vin naas lo, kaanpri e, pa soita tuii ma? kata pa isawi ma? |
I know very well the sounds of this place, the smells so, why do I not fit? why is my heart lonely? | |
| kol naas pro ri i pa, wvuhtera eranesta kasnia, miska siiwe naas pro ri a |
carry me to that place there, horses of eranesta kasnia, light up the way to the place there | |
| irama kin vaan naas pa prast u naas pa dan? prast a, dee'akache dan ksii a, miracha sh'te |
searching and drifting is my place here or far away? here, I stand far away, I have found home | |
Dava Ty Disientha (Now Is Disientha)
This is a song from West Nin. It is popular for some reason among the nobility.
Explanatory notes: 'Disientha' is the end of year festival, held at the begining of the rainy season. The horses of the god Eranesta bear the names of the seasons. 'Tijekumi' is the summer, or dry season, 'Tahijena' is the rainy season.
| Kardii | Translation | |
| say ksia ponche k'viv kin tad
kin istee svu n'lor vin pretnee dteena n'lor tijekumi rando tahijena raa isana a iiniachii kseerros ha? dava ty disientha |
we all wait for the rain, lightning,
thunder and wind the last day of the sun the last journey of tijekumi how many storms will the hoof of tahijena, on the dry soil, summon? now is disientha | |
| nedake terrish kin nedake miichi nedake jay kesni kin toina kin daapedi shaavke ashiniseji vin kedana kintia isana sajiche ay k'viv taana |
bring terrish and bring wine bring party clothes and strings and drum come to the feast of laughter the dry season gives way again to drops of rain | |
Li Tali Ali (On The Li Tali)
This song is from East Nin. 'Li Tali' is the name that many people in the Talin region give to the Talin River. While most of the customs of the region are now Shela, many people still hold the old Tali values, including a love of the river itself.
Explanatory notes: 'Kayilin' is is a kind of tree. Tali boats are traditionally made from kayilin wood.
The first verse below is sung in harmony with each of the other verses.
| Kardii | Translation | |
| inva kaha, istee d'tuche inva kaha, miska vifaanche inva kaha, hijen shaavche inva kaha, kseerros koamache |
have speed, the wind becomes strong have speed, the light fades have speed, the rainy season comes have speed, the storms follow | |
| krada piaat pa a pinsha vin ira stia silpa kayilin pa a sayan ida, sayan dabia li tali ali, pa wasrache |
a net in my hand fish for the old ones in my kayilin boat waves are rough, waves are smooth on the li tali, I ride | |
| j'taachi vin ertnaychen sisari pa ri i kandaar k'mi'ias vin hijen aseriche esiri li tali ali, pa wasrache |
spirit of the dear river whisper to me the dark clouds of the rains cry out warning on the li tali, I ride | |
| ernaychen, kintia lo kana ist ty san'ii akaades aareenoa kin kanike karli li tali ali, pa wasrache |
dear river, this season new beginnings are promised swallow the plains and give birth to life on the li tali, I ride | |
| pa kalinache tuii kseerros d'tarri kapa pa astikache tuii haara pa, inda pa li tali ali, pa wasrache |
I do not fear the fierce, angry storm I do not run from my brother, my sustenance on the li tali, I ride | |
Min'ia Kara (Dawn Hymn)
This is one of many min'ia kara, songs sung at sunrise to bring luck during the day. Often, special ones are written to be sung on special days, but this is one of the simple ones, sung by anyone who happens to be awake at that time. The last two lines reflect the Shela idea of 'kana, naka, kela', a philosophy that says that each day you should begin something, finish something, and make someone smile.
Audio - music written by Michael Repton, recorded by Aaron Toivo.
| Kardii | Translation | |
|
e miska den'iaan, e miska vensira e miska theeii, e miska aareenoa e miska driite, e miska teriisa e miska lipel, e miska loijakoa anerachii aanest, nerastachii uwen kedana koamachii svu kanaka i pa |
light the mountains, light the forests light the seas, light the plains light the sand, light the water light the trees, light the stones I will plant a seed, I will pick some fruit laughter will follow me thoughout the day | |
Theeii Rehe Northa (Across the Fire Sea)
This was written by the famous poet Tesani.
Audio - music written by Michael Repton, recorded by Aaron Toivo.
Explanatory notes: The 'Fire Sea' is the ocean that seperates Shania from the other Shela kingdoms. (See a map)
| Kardii | Translation | |
|
lika lo ches i'iee pretnee e mira eta tuii pa istee ami vin kol imele ki e ama eta awena pa a rehe vree kata pa a e rehent wenara pa vin vay i ketshise sayan a deja ki theeii rehe northa i? ketshise sayan a deja ki theeii rehe northa i? kara a pa chay pretnee m'pilise tash ki pro a koamake pretnee ketshi tava i e kana kotep eppa i vusa koamake pretnee ketshi tava i e kana kotep eppa i vusa |
this shore is so cold the sun cannot find me only the wind that carries your voice can warm the air around me the blue fire in my heart burns in my tears of love as they fall into the waves, can you see them from across the Fire Sea? as they fall into the waves, can you see them from across the Fire Sea? at dawn I look to the rising sun and know that you are there follow the sun fall in the west and begin the night in my arms follow the sun fall in the west and begin the night in my arms | |