Kuputunywa ilizwe
Ke lonakala. 120
29Liziko! Lezazikazi
Eliputuma u Ntsikana
Inamb’enkulu eyajikela
Ibhekisa pezulu.
30Awu! Latsho 125
Ibhadi elinebhula
Elizivutulula
Zimise Inkowane
Awu! Hia!
Mgqwetho urges blacks in the western Cape, who have received coolly Marshall Maxeke’s assertion that the time is right for action, to seek a better dispensation.
6 The poet of the ford
1Ink, leave me to sleep.
Last night I tossed and turned
and fell asleep at dawn.
Why was that? Au! The ford.
2Au! Leave me to sleep. 5
Maxeke’s idea of a ford’s got us going,
we raised our heads from despair
as if we’d already crossed over.
3Speak out, Cete! Someone called for the fords to be blocked
so those in the Cape couldn’t cross: 10
they’ll spoil it all, because everything’s fine
as long as they’re sleeping like springboks.
4Speak out! I say Nomgcanabana’s father’s
a lightning bird taken to dance
at Lupindo’s place, where it’s fed, 15
and when it’s full it goes off with Baldy.
5Speak out, Nqhini, with all your might!
I say go and we’ll follow you,
those in the Cape hear your voice
and ask “Where is the ford?” 20
6Speak out, Cete! What more can I say?
It strikes me this thing will be seen
to come good, since it’s gently fanned
by men who iron out problems. Au!
7Speak out, Cete! I say live long, 25
son of Piliso, death isn’t pretty:
everything’s ugly under the sods.
The ford’s nothing like a lifeless lump.
6 Imbongi ye Zibuko
1Ndiyeke ndilale wetu No Inki
Andilalanga pezolo kude kwasa
Ndipetwe ngumva ndedwa
Wani wetu? Au! we Zibuko.
2Au! Ndiyeke ndilale wakwenz’ ukwenza 5
U Maxeke wavela ne Zibuko
Zapakam’ intamo sesincamile
Sanga sesiwela kanti asikaweli.
3Teta Cete! Wat’ umntu valani
Ama Zibuko angaweli Amakoloni 10
Kuyakonakala kuba kube kusa
Lungile xana elele ngokwa mabhadi.
4Teta! Nditi u Nomgcanabana u yise
Yimpundulu ekolis’ ukuxentsa kwa
Lupindo apo itululelwa kona ze 15
Yakuhluta imke no Mkutuka.
5Teta! Nditi hamba Nqhini
Sokulandela, teta kuti gongqo
Inkaba ayeva wena Amakoloni
Linye izwi lawo liti lipina Izibuko? 20
6Teta Cete! Ndisateta ntonina ngati kum
Kuzakuvokoteka nje, kuba lento iza
Kakuhle kuba itiwe c’u zinqeberu
Zamadoda avutiweyo wona, Au!
7Teta Cete! Nditi mpilo nde nto 25
Ka Piliso akuko kufa kuhle
Konke kumkongolo pantsi kwe soyi
Izibuko aloyamene nganto no Duladula.
8Speak out! I say a man’s tossed under
a mound, well fed, 30
without a good word
from the speakers over his grave.
SHAME!
9Speak out! Because we are at the ford.
We know of no one concerned at that, 35
we don’t know why they were suddenly restless,
we know of no one who’d treat us as brainless,
we know of no one who’d bar our Cape sympathies.
10Speak out! I say to you in the Cape:
take after your grandmothers, 40
act fearing no one,
for you’ve stolen no one’s property.
Die-as-one, indeed!
You’ll be people too. Wake up!
Rise up to the ford! The ford. 45
8Teta! Nditi indoda ilahlwa pantsi
Kwe ndunduma ihluti kungeko 30
Nebalana enganconywa ngalo
Ziziteti pezu kwe dlaka layo.
SHAME!
9Teta! Kuba tina sise Zibukweni
Asazi mntu ungaba nesitukutezi yilonto 35
Asazi ukuba yintonina le basuke bangenwe kuzuza.
Asazi mntu ungasenza abaswel’ ukucinga
Asazi mntu ungasinqandayo ebu Kolonini betu.
10Teta! Nditi kuni Makoloni ndini
Fuzani Onyokokulu, niti ukuba 40
Niyayenza into niyenze ningoyiki
Buso bamntu kuba anibanga nto
Yamntu. Umfelandawonye bo!
Noba ngabantu nani. Vukani bo!
Pakamelani Izibuko! Izibuko. 45
Mgqwetho mourns her late mother, a saintly figure, prayerful, devoted to the service of others in her rural community, and concerned about the wayward life of the cities.
7 Mama’s death
Mrs. Emma Jane Mgqwetho,
daughter of Zingelwa of the Cwerha clan,
much loved by the people
and by her children.
1We give thanks, All-Mighty, 5
Thunder-and-They-Shudder:
the Mgqwetho home shuddered when you thundered,
you seized its central pillar
and left them bereft.
2Grief cleft the Ngojis 10
when you seized this old woman
and showed in so doing
our