In the old days, you were fragrant;
Today you are still fragrant;
Tomorrow you will remain fragrant.

In the old days, you grew nicely and protected the land;
Today, you are cut into pieces like firewoods;
Tomorrow, what will you be?

Your fragrance attracted white people from many nations;
Your price lets come many dishonest men from the village and town;
Your name is recalled from generation to generation,
but you might be forgotten soon.

Who will keep your holy spirit?
Who will write down you name
in the book of testament with ink of gold?
Who will chase away your enemies?
Who will raise your descendants?

Jogjakarta, 8 January 2002


The Dawanese version:

Hau menî

Nâko Yohanes Manhitu

Lo 'tebes, afi unû ho lo afomenit ko,
Neno ma tabu i ho afomenit piuta ka?
Nokâ-sinê ho lof a-mfomén munoeba?
Mauthe manas ma funan es a-ntain lasi.

Afi unû ho lo mumlia ma mumaof pah.
Neno i ho smanam ma ho aom namtaun
Onlê hau hopî he nasaitan in un ma taün.
Sekau es lof nasoin ma nseif sin nâko fai?

Ho fomenme nhoen kaes mutî pah-pah;
Ho upme nfuil anaot nâko kuan ma kota;
Ho kanme matekâ nâko batan neu batan,
Me ho ait lof mapnikan ko laba onlê anin?

Sekau es lof a-npanat ho smanam akninô?
Sekau es lof a-ntui ko ho kanam afomenit
Nbin sulat fef-mantaën neik tinta mnatû?
Sekau es lof nakain kanan nekaf asinmakat?
Sekau es lof nânaeb ho sufam ma ho kaüm?

Jogjakarta, 8 Funmesê 2003