Our Adyghe Nation
(Video by Sergey Efremov)
What our Adyghe Nation
Endured beyond the pale
Today, judged as millions,
Have lost their lives in War.
Of our Adyghe people
Very few were spared that fate
Scattered we are today,
Around, around the World.
What I fear most right now,
Is our complete decay!
For this I’ve come to you
With anxious, sorrowful heart
And a daily troubled head
About where we stand today,
And how so low we’ve dropped!
When once we were THE Tcherkess …
Admired by Friend and Foe,
Esteemed by High and Low!
Surely, we were, still Are
Adyghe to last drop,
Long-known by high and low
For our chivalrous ways
Long-known throughout the World.
Had they then searched, could not
Have found more upright ways.
Today, I look around
Feel pain at what I see
Breakdown of what once was
Our Etiquette, courteous ways
As set long time ago
By elders, for young and old,
Observe the Xhabzah (traditions) guides,
Wherever we are or might be.
With anxious, sorrowful heart
And a daily troubled head
About where we are today
How far, so low we’ve dropped
Who once were THE Tcherkess…
Admired by Friend and Foe,
Esteemed by High and Low!
If we do want what’s best
In conduct and in all
We must return to Best,
The Xhabzah rules of Old,
And prove to all who watch
How we conduct ourselves,
Unite for Best, for all,
For all, here and there,
And always tell the truth,
And tell it, as it is.
If Adyghe is Truly you,
If that how you count yourself
Acclaimed by high and low,
For our courtly ways,
Long known throughout the World,
Then think what’s Good for all,
And see that it comes through.
With anxious, sorrowful heart
And daily troubled head,
About where we are today,
How far, so low we’ve dropped!
Us, the once esteemed Tcherkess …
Admired by Friend and Foe,
Honored by High and Low!
Bear in mind that the Xhabze
Is as pure as a water Spring
Make sure you don’t pollute it
And keep it Always Clear.
Adyghabza, dear Mother tongue!
We all should cling to you,
Right now, for it’s the way
The Only way, we have,
As Adyghe we can advance
As Adyghe we may Be
And make things better, Not worse.
For only then we can say,
Only then we can Shout,
Only then we may Shout,
Adyghe will always BE.
Translator: Muneera Salem-Murdock
Reviewer: Ghassan Jana
Singer: Apana Astemeer
September 22, 2022
