to rush to the scene, 80
cup of water in hand. Mercy!
19No need for a traveller
to ask if there was water;
drawn by Mama’s glowing compassion
he’d make straight for her home. Peace! 85
20This parent’s departure
leaves us stunned;
among Cwerha and Chizama
bitter tears are shed.
21She went to bed 90
free of anger;
she woke again free of anger;
peace reigned supreme
in the depths of her soul. Peace! Heavens!
22For Johannesburg 95
she’d offer prayers,
noting its Sodom
and Gomorrah.
23This Cwerha daughter
bared her heart: 100
sprites fled the threshholds,
the Winterberg swivelled.
24Who is there, Lord,
who would not fear you,
16Akunalusizi kufa,
Akunako ukucengwa; 70
Bubuninzi benyembezi,
Akunakushukunyiswa.
17U Kristu usishiyele umzekelo,
Ukuze silandele emkondweni wake:
Zakuti izindlu zetu zimile uqaqaqa, 75
(Oleseshayo makaqiqe).
18Bekuti ukuba kwenzakele umntu apo emzini,
Nakuba uwiswe lihashe,
Lomzalikazi wetu abengowokuqala
Ukubaleka ukuya kulondawo, 80
Epete ibekile yamanzi Taru!
19Umhambi ngendlela ebengazange abuze mntwini,
Ukuba amanzi acelwa pina;
Ebetsalwa sisibane sobubele,
Esivutayo emzini ka Mhamha aze asinge kona Camagu! 85
20Kuyadlul’ ingqondo zetu,
Ukushiywa ngulo mzali;
Emacwereni—nakwa—Chizama,
Bampompoza ezir’ar’a
21Ebengazange ayo kulala, 90
Equmbelene namntu;
Ebengazange avuke kanjalo equmbelene namntu,
Kwakulaula Uxolo kupela:
Empefumlweni wake Camagu! Mazulu!
22Ubesitandazela isixeko 95
Sase Rautini;
Ngati uyasibona,
Ubu Sodom nobu Gomorra baso.
23Azinge--Umcwerakazi,
Icandeke intliziyo; 100
Atiyele namachanti Enyangweni,
Zitsho nentaba zenkonkobe zikangelane.
24Ngubanina ongeke akoyike,
Wena Nkosi;
refuse to exalt 105
your holy name?
25Our mother would pray
for an end to war:
“O Lord, put an end
to the letting of blood. 110
26“Lord,” she implored,
“shield our land
from the threat of fire,
of the mines, and of floods,
27“of tempest and lightning, 115
of locusts,
of whirlwind,
of hunger and plague.” Mercy!
28This Cwerha implored,
“Father, pour blessings 120
on this land of ours
so it bursts into bloom like a garden.
29“Support the aged,
so all your people
unite with one heart 125
in love for each other.”
30May all her friends,
dwelling as one
in love for each other,
hear this news of her death. Peace to you all! 130
“Blessed are those who have followed His teachings, so they enjoy the fruits of the tree of life and pass through the gates to the heavenly homestead. Mercy! Hallelujah!”
Angalizukisi, 105
Igama Lako.
25Ubesitsho Lomzalikazi wetu,
Ati Nkosi: Kauyale imfazwe;
Nokupalazwa
Kwegazi labantu. 110
26Amemelele ke! Ati Nkosi,
Gcina ilizwe;
Kuyo ingozi yomlilo
Neyemigodi neyamanzi.
27Neyezipango zezic’oto, 115
Nemibane—
Neyenkumbi,
Neyendlala neyezifo Taru!
28Amemelele ke! Umcwerakazi,
Ati umhlaba wetu, 120
Mawube njengentsimi;
Esikelelweyo nguwe Bawo.
29Yiba ngumxasi wabalupeleyo
Unike ukutandana;
Nobunye bentliziyo, 125
Kubantu Bako bonke.
30Zonke ke izihlobo,
Mazaneliswe ngulo mbiko;
Ezihleli ngomanyano,
Lwabatandanayo Camaguni! 130
“Banenyweba abayenzayo imiyalelo Yake ukuze babe nelungelo kuwo umti wobomi bangene ngamasango kuwo Umzi:—Taru Hallelluya!”
An adherent of traditional Xhosa beliefs berates the licentiousness of the cities and the hypocrisy of Christian converts. She ridicules the vanity of their urban ways, aping whites.
8 A Red debates with Christians
Where are your daughters? What do you say?
They crossed the land in search of marriage,
shamelessly shacked up with live-in lovers,
cavorted in dances with young men in New Clare.
With eyes of porridge their mothers bemoan 5
their absent children, who left them standing,
advising blank air and pleading in vain
with sons and daughters who’ve all been to school.
Jails crammed to capacity, courts jam-packed
with the learned products of school education; 10