^z23rd July 2025 at 10:05am
By Robert Burns, for William Muir, in 1784:
An honest man here lies at rest,
As e’er God with His image blest:
The friend of man, the friend of truth;
The friend of age, and guide of youth:
Few hearts like his, with virtue warm’d,
Few heads with knowledge so inform’d:
If there’s another world, he lives in bliss;
If there is none, he made the best of this.
... and in Toki Pona, rather loosely:
jan pi toki lon li moli
ona li jo e pona tan sewi
ona li jan pona tawa ale
pilin ona li pona
sona ona li suli
ma ante li lon la ona li pilin e pona suli
ma ante li lon ala la ona li pali e pona suli insa ma ni
| toki pona | rough translation |
|---|---|
| jan pi toki lon li moli | a person who spoke the truth is dead |
| ona li jo e pona tan sewi | he received goodness from above |
| ona li jan pona tawa ale | he was a friend to all |
| pilin ona li pona | his heart was good |
| sona ona li suli | his wisdom was big |
| ma ante li lon la ona li pilin e pona suli | if there are other worlds, he is feeling bliss |
| ma ante li lon ala la ona li pali e pona suli insa ma ni | if not, he did great good in this world |
(cf Robert Nozick (2002-02-02), For Great Justice (2002-12-01), Jack Smart (2013-04-13), ...) - ^z - 2025-07-23