3When you blot out life
and people pass on, 15
teach us to look
to the kingdom of heaven.
4All of Hackney
knew her as Mama:
she bore limitless love, 20
the selfsame heart,
for every creed.
5Her arms enfolded
not only her children,
enfolded the children 25
of every nation. Mercy!
6On blistered feet she made her rounds
to pray at the side of the sick.
Blessed are those who die in the Lord,
whose sins are washed in the blood of the Lamb. 30
Mercy!
7 Umpanga ka Mama
U Mrs. Emmah Jane Mgqwetho.
Intombi ka Zingelwa Umcwerakazi,
eyayitandwa kakulu ngabantu;
nangabantwana bayo.
1Nkunkutela enkulu masikubulele; 5
Duma Barwaqele;
Owaduma barwaqela kwa Mgqwetto,
Watabata Intsika yomzi wakona;
Wabashiya bekedamile.
2Usizi ke lwayicanda Ingoji, 10
Ukutabata Kwako Eloxegakazi;
Kwasifundisa,
Ukuba apa asinakaya.
3Xa ususayo ukupefumla kwabantu,
Baze babhubhe; 15
Makusifundise nati,
Ukubugqala ubu Kumkani bama Zulu.
4Ihewu lonke jikelele,
Belisiti ukumbiza ngu Mhamha;
Kuba ebenotando olunzulu, 20
Nobunye bentliziyo;
Kwiremente zonke.
5Ingalo zake wayengazoluleli,
Abake abantwana bodwa;
Kodwa ezolulela nabantwana, 25
Balo lonke ilizwe Camagu!
6Inyawo zake zasezityabukile,
Kukuhamba etandazela nabagulayo;
Banoyolo ababhubhele Enkosini,
Abazono zisongelwe egazini Lemvana, 30
Camagu!
7She expressed compassion,
incessantly praying
for Joburg’s children
in the land of horrors. 35
8Lord of all creatures,
you summoned your servant in peace,
as we suffer her death
may our lives be illumined!
9The Chizama blanket’s folded 40
with no one to wear it today.
Oh, Death, you’re the foe,
with your bow and arrows.
10In prayer for the world
this mother of ours 45
would sing a sweet song of praise;
inside the walls of our home resounded,
the people outside grew lean.
11She swayed us with her prayers,
the wayward found new paths, 50
even those who shunned you, Father,
now perceived their splendour.
12She grazed homewards to Jerusalem,
for her a haven of peace;
with callused feet this cow elephant 55
smoothed life’s path for us.
13Torrent whose kindness
flushed river courses,
gush today
in springs above Jordan. 60
14God is love indeed,
but Mama’s love of people
was Hermon’s morning dews
bathing Zion’s hills.
15The light of her love 65
cascaded like willows,
edged with lilies,
sustained by water.
7Umlomo wake onobubele,
Wawungadinwa;
Ukutandazela abantwana babantu,
Abakwilizwe lezihelegu lase Rautini. 35
8Nako ke! Mninintozonke!
Usindulule ngoxolo, isicakakazi sako,
Ke uluvo lokufa kwaso;
Zelubonakale entlalweni yetu.
9Namhla ingubo yakwa Chizama ilele yodwa, 40
Ngokuswel’ umambati;
Awu kufa ulutshaba,
Nesapeta sako.
10Lomzalikazi wetu,
Xa wayetandazela elimiweyo, 45
Ubesitsho ngentlombe emnandi;
Zidume nendonga zendlu yakuti,
Babhitye nabangapandle.
11Ubeutsho Umtandazo batyabatyeke,
Zibuye nezihange emadotyeni; 50
Baubone ubuqaqauli bawo,
Nabampoxe ezinkalweni njenge sikova.
12Kwikaya lake loxolo i Jerusalem,
Wayedla egodusa;
Lendlovukazi—enyawo zinentsente, 55
Isandulela endleleni yobomi.
13Msingakazi obubele,
Behla ngemilambo;
Namhla mabube zingqimba,
Pezu kwe Jordani. 60
14U Tixo Ulutando,
Kodwa oluka Mama ebantwini;
Belunje ngemibete yase Herimone,
Elalayo entabeni ezo ze Ziyoni.
15Isibane sotando lwake, 65
Besinje ngemingcunube;
Etyalwe ngasemijelweni yamanzi adlayo,
Pakati kwazo inyibiba.
16Death, you’re heartless,
unperturbed; 70
a torrent of tears
leaves you unmoved.
17Christ set an example,
we follow his footsteps:
grass will grow on our graves 75
(Reader, take note).
18When trouble struck a home—
perhaps a fall from a horse—
our