The Mist Closes Behind Her

On her last afternoon, Polly flew high above the coast. Below her were the tea fields, the crater lakes, and the quiet forest. The island looked like old volcanoes, still slowly turning green.

Katika alasiri yake ya mwisho, Polly aliruka juu ya pwani. Chini yake yalikuwa mashamba ya chai, maziwa ya kreta, na msitu tulivu. Kisiwa kilionekana kama volkano kongwe, bado zikigeuka kijani polepole.

Boats went back to the harbor. Lights came on along the coast. Smoke smell drifted up from the shore.

Mashua zilirudi bandarini. Taa ziliwaka kando ya pwani. Harufu ya moshi ilipanda kutoka ufuoni.

Fog came in from the sea. It covered the crater, then the tea fields, then the harbor. Polly had seen this before.

Ukungu uliingia kutoka baharini. Ulifunika kreta, kisha mashamba ya chai, kisha bandari. Polly alikuwa ameona hivi awali.

She flew out over the water. Behind her, the island kept cooking dinner underground and growing tea. A small grey bird stayed safe in its forest.

Aliruka kuelekea majini. Nyuma yake, kisiwa kiliendelea kupika chakula chini ya ardhi na kuotesha chai. Ndege mdogo wa kijivu alibaki salama msituni mwake.