Karen Translation

Voices from the Mountains
Poetry in the Sgaw Karen language from Myanmar and Thailand

Karen Language

Sgaw • Myanmar • Thailand

Ta law a klu hku ta hee,
A mu ta htee ta kyaw ta law.
Ta hta ta ler, ta ke ta meh,
Ta yaw hso ta kaw ta la htee.
Ta mu ta kho ta kyaw a klu,
Ta ma ta kho ta a hee.
Ta hso ta kloh, ta hso ta law,
Ta mu ta kho, ta hta ta ler!

English Translation

The light shines through

The light shines through the broken edge,
Not through proud eyes on glory's ledge.
The humbled soul, the silent cry,
Draws angels down from higher sky.
It's not the strong that move His hand,
But those who fall and choose to stand.
He lifts the low, He shames the high,
The proud will fall, the meek will fly.