Negema wangu binti,
mchachefu wa sanati
upulike wasiati
asa ukanzingatia.
Maradhi yamenshika
hatta yametimu mwaka
sikupata kutamka
neno lema kukwambia.
Ndoo mbee ujilisi
na wino na qaratasi
moyoni nina hadithi
nimependa kukwambia.
Ukisa kutaqarabu
Bismillahi kutubu
umsalie Habibu
na sahabaze pamoya.
Ukisa kulitangaza
ina la Mola Muweza
basi tuombe majaza
Mola tatuwafiqia.
Mwanaadamu si kitu
na ulimwengu si wetu
walau hakuna mtu
ambao atasalia.
Mwanangu twaa waadhi
pamoya na yangu radhi
Mngu atakuhifadhi
akuepue na baa.
Twaa nikupe hirizi
uifungeto kwa uzi
uipe na taazizi
upate kuyangalia.
Nikutungie kindani
cha lulu na marijani
nikuvike mke shani
shingoni kikizagaa.
Penda nikupe kifungo
kizuri kisicho ongo
uvae katika shingo
utaona manufaa.
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Mwana Kupona was a 19th century Bajuni poet who lived in Pate Island. She wrote Utendi wa Mwana Kupona in the latter years of her life when battling a terminal illness. The full poem, which is 102 stanzas in length, was dedicated to her daughter Mwana Heshima and consisted of teachings she hoped to pass on to her. Mwana Kupona passed away in 1865, but the verses in her poem live on to date.