1“Timbilili!” says the sleeper,
suddenly wakened.
“Timbilili!” says the marsh bird,
drenched in rain. 5
2Hawulele! Mvabaza,
the blanket of Congress
has often been rolled up;
today it’s unfurled again.
3Mvabaza, I’ve long had my eye on you, 10
cow yielding dribbles of milk
lacking the strength
to reach the milksack.
4Hawulele! Hule!
Abantu-Batho, 15
you thought you’d retain
the title of guardian.
5 Umteteli wa Bantu
saw right through you:
you’re a sack without water 20
left to breed tadpoles.
6Our people are spent,
urged over the edge,
lacking healers
to administer cures. 25
7The woman poet joined you?
Where did we talk?
In that paper of yours
I’d be torn in the jaws of a lion.
4 Imbongikazi No “Abantu-Batho”
Uqekeko luka Maxeke! Nokuya kwe Mbongikazi:—
1Timbilili! Watsho okade elele
Wabuya wavuka
Timbilili! Watsho okade eneta
Intaka yendada zase Afrika. 5
2Hawulele! Nto ka Mvabaza
Namhla isikumba se Congress
Ngati sisongwa
Sisombuluka.
3Kudala! Mvabaza ndakubonayo 10
Uyimazi elubisi luncinanana
Olungasafikiyo
Nase zimvabeni.
4Hawulele! Hule!
Wena “Abantu-Batho” 15
Wawuba uyakusala
Negama lobugosa.
5Umteteli wa Bantu
Kudala akubonayo
Uyimvaba engenawo namanzi 20
Eyode izale onojubalalana.
6Abantu bayapela
Kukufunzwa eweni
Kuba abanamnyangi
Obabhulel’imiti. 25
7Imbongikazi iyile?
Ndandizakukusukela pi?
Kuba kwelopepa lako
Ndoginywa yimilomo yengonyama.
8I know you well, Mvabaza: 30
you shun the day,
prefering the moon
as travelling companion.
Reader, take note!
9The woman poet joined you? 35
Mvabaza, plain Xhosa eludes you:
please reread my poem
on the split within Congress:
10“Tramps’ ancestors
are no match for mine.” 40
Just what do you think
I meant by those words?
11You tremble, Mvabaza, like jelly
served on a plate;
a Joburg Johnny-come-lately, 45
an overnight leader.
12You’re no leader, Mvabaza,
and you never will be,
all you can claim
is the status of shopkeeper. 50
13Leave Reverend Maxeke alone:
It was God who founded that paper
seeing our people wasted,
urged over the edge.
14When did you win 55
election to rule?
We still have our chiefs
established by God.
15Mvabaza, you’re blind
to God’s creation, 60
wanting me woman poet
of your Abantu-Batho.
16You brag that you brought
the woman poet from Peddie
to earn your bread 65
8Ndiyazi wena Mvabaza 30
Akuvumani nelanga
Kuba waqel’ nyanga
Into ohamba nayo
Paul’a Mfundi.
9Imbongikazi iyile? 35
Akusazi Mvabaza isi-Xosa
Kaufunde kwakona izibongo
Zoqekeko lwe kongressi.
10Iminyanya yakowetu
Ayibambani neyexelegu 40
Ndanditeta ukutini
Xa ndandisitsho?
11Wena Mvabaza uluyengeyenge
Olweza lupetwe ngesikotile
Lwafika e Rautini 45
Lwabona soluyi nkokeli.
12Akuyiyo ke Inkokeli
Nakanye wena Mvabaza
Ungumrwebi
Elona gama lako. 50
13Yekana no Mfu. Maxeke
Ngu Tixo oseke elapepa
Ebona ukupela kwabantu
Kukufunzwa eweni.
14Ngubani owakubeka 55
Ukuba ube yinkokeli?
Zikona nje Inkosi
Ezadalwa ngu Tixo.
15Akuyazi wena Mvabaza
Nendalo ka Tixo 60
Naku nam soundenza
Imbong’kazi ka “Abantu Batho”
16Uyavuya wena weza
Nembongikazi e Ngqushwa
Ukuba mayizokukwenzela 65
in Johannesburg!
That’ll be the day!
17We stumbled in starting.
We seek a ford.
Our people are wasted, 70
urged over the edge.
18Hawuleleh! Huleh! From Jeppe
they urge us over the edge,
they