Baliaren bertsoak

Verses of the Balearic Islands

Baliaren bertsoak

In the year one thousand nine hundred and twentyMila bederatziehun
was the first yearda lehenengo urtean
on the twelfth of Maymaiatzaren hamalau
on the seventh daygarren egunian
in the town of OriokoOrioko herriko
by the edge of the cliff,barraren aurrian,
Balia appearedbalia agertu zan
for the first time.beatzik aldian.

Even though he was bigHandia ba zan ere
he was fast on his feetazkarra ibilian
He went back thereBueltaka han zebilen
and came backjuan da etorrian
with a proud waveondarra harrotuaz
swimming in the sea,murgil igarian,
he had treasures andzorriak zeuzkan eta
he wanted to throw them away.haiek bota nahian.

When they sawIkusi zutenian
that he was like thathala zebilela
they went to get himberiala jun ziran
looking for the trains;treñeruen bila;
harpoons and dynamitearpoi ta dinamita
and lots of rope,eta soka pila,
ready to bring himaguro ekartzeko
without killing people.etzan jende hila.

Five trains wentBost treñero juan ziran
with the same crew,patroi banarekin,
fast and strong boysmutil bizkor bikainak
all very good:guztiz onarekin:
Manuel OlaizolaManuel Olaizola
and Loidi.eta Loidirekin.
Uranga, Atxaga andUranga, Atxaga ta
Manterola.Manterolarekin.

The jumps and divesBaliak egindako
made by the Balearicsalto ta marruak
were amazingziran izugarri
and impressive;ta ikaratzekuak;
without turning backatzera egin gabe
to the risks there,hango arriskuak,
they killed with harpoons,arpoiakin hil zuten,
there were the locals.han ziran hangoak.

Five boats wereBost txalupa jiran da
in the middle of the bay,erdian balia,
men madegizonak egin zuten
some quite brave;bai nahiko pelia;
when they sawikusi zutenian
dead or wounded,hil edo itoa,
there was a partylegorretikan ba zan
with cheers and applause.biba ta txaloa.

Twelve meters long,Hamabi metro luze,
ten wide,gerria hamar lodi,
four wide at the bowbuztan pala lau zabal
and two at the stern,albuetan pala bi,
with sharp edgesezpainetan bizarrak
two more in a rowbeste hilera bi
like a saworrazian bezala
they were beautifully.hain zeuzkan ederki.

A remarkable thingGauza ikusgarritzat
on some days,egun batzuetan,
next to the villageherriaren ondoan
there was a plan,arranplan egon zan,
even from afarurrutitikan ere
people came,jendea etorri zan,
they collected moneymila pezetaraino
up to a thousand pesetas.dirua bildu zan.

There were a thousandGorputzez zan mila ta
and a hundred bodies.berrehun arrua.
Another hundred skinnyBeste berrehun mingain
and belly guts,ta tripa barruak,
with little foodgutxi janez etzegon
not a bit lost,batere galdua,
in six pesetas of dyetiñako sei pezetan
it was sold.izan zan saldua.

One hundred and twenty hardEhun ta hogei duroz
were the sharp edges,balean bizarrak,
the sharp ones were soldagudo saldu ziren
with their sheaths,bere egaltzarrak,
cleaned and keptgarbitu eta gordeak
they have sharp pointsdauzke hezurtzarrak
with big accountskontu handiekin
sharp and round.lodi ta medarrak.

I have put what happenedGertatua jarri det
on the side of truth,egiaren alde,
if it is not like thishau horrela ez bada
ask the people;jendiari galde;
with our hearts in placebihotzez posturikan
we are comfortable,atsegintsu gaude,
up with the Oriotarrakgora oriotarrak
without saying a word.esan bildur gabe.