Email to Priya Paul
4 October 2008
Dear Priya
I hope you are well. An opportunity has arisen to publish a short article on Sivakami’s children’s songs. The collection will appear in Chimurenga, a South African-based journal. The reason I’m writing is to request permission to reprint the lyrics to Sivakami’s “Songololo Song”. I have had the song translated from the original Tamil into English (see below) with the help of Vish Naidoo, the Port Shepstone poet and priest. I’ve adapted the rhyming structure myself and have tried my best to retain the spirit of the original. I know the song is one of your favourites and I think we can agree that it is devoid of any trace of the occult. My girlfriend, Jenny (who you met in December), has recorded a rough demo of the song following Sivakami’s original melody. I’ve attached it here for your interest. Excuse the poor sound quality.
Please let me know if all this meets your approval. This would mean a lot to me. I’ve had a rather lean patch publishing wise recently and have not had a piece of writing published (outside the self-published route) in over 4 years. Indeed, the last piece of any substance ‘The Radio-Cabinet’ – a short story – was published 8 years ago. I think this might be an opportunity for me to re-enter the South African writing scene. And, of course, more importantly, it will provide Sivakami a wider audience. The publication deadline is quite soon so there is some urgency.
I look forward to hearing from you,
Best,
Pravasan
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Songololo Song
Under stone, stick and bone x 2
Songololo lives alone
When we hoe, when we sow x 2
He comes out from below
Chorus
He is long, he is strong x 2
Come sing songololo’s song
Go to bed, rest your head x 2
Songololo will be fed
There he goes, up your nose x 2
Creeping on a thousand toes
Chorus
If you cry, if you sigh x 2
Songololo comes to pry
Dry your tears, close your ears x 2
Or in there he disappears
Chorus
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