Nendanduluko yokubuka omtsha
Ofikileyo.
Wadlula unyaka wemka unendaba
Zabantu bonke abase mhlabeni 10
Ezokuhlala nokupatana kubi
Ziyokubhalwa.
Ezobunzima nezo zemivuyo
Ezetamsanqa nezi zezamashwa
Ezomkuhlane nezo zokupila 15
Zipetwe zonke.
Utwel’ umtwalo unyakenye lowo
Owobunzima obusemhlabeni
Impitimpiti ezishukumisa
Izwe labantu. 20
Inkohliswano impatwano kubi
Imbandezelo izibulalano
Pambi ko Mgwebi ekangele nina
Ziya kubikwa.
Umnyaka omdala ngoku uyapela 25
Ke Simakade sibulela Kuwe
Kwingozi zonke osigcine kuzo
Unyaka wonke.
Cast out our errors,
straighten our ways, 30
neglect all our sins
in the old year. Mercy!
1923, take the sweet gum
of our African prayers;
1923, with myrrh take our cries 35
to the One on High. Peace!
1923, I’m afraid it can’t be denied
they’re stealing your cattle on the plains;
but, Africans, to you I say:
will you go to the grave with nothing achieved? 40
Will the years pass you by, Greybeard of ours,
with nothing to show for them?
Let the old year be torched today,
let the new shake hands with us all.
Hanewu, 1923, trying year, 45
cross all the pools and leave
with the old year’s pack on your back.
Peace, Elephant browsing homewards.
Those who once longed for you now must abandon you
to the sun and to the moon; 50
greetings, always true to your word.
Mercy, berry bush leaving with witches.
Smooth the way to heaven.
Why are the houses of Africa burning?
Poll Tax, Pass, and Special Permit. 55
Where can we live? Up in the clouds.
Laws outnumber those of Moses.
Why are the houses of Africans burning?
1923, go present your report,
plead our case in elegant terms. Peace! 60
A year’s too fierce to take from behind.
It whips those who know into terror:
people succumb in its clutches,
a shade-screened leopard, dark beast eternal.
Sahlukanise neziposo zetu
Uyilungise yonk’ ihambo yetu 30
Uwalibale onke amatyala
Onyak’ omdala. Taru!
Nantso intlaka yitabate 1923
Eyimitandazo yetu tina ma Afrika
Nantso nemore yitabate 1923 35
Nyusa ngayo izikalo ziye Kopezulu. Camagu!
Zemk’ inkomo zetafa 1923
Akunakupikwa ndilusizi ukutsho
Kodwa manditi kuwe m Afrika
Wozufena gxebe ungeko entweni. 40
Yadlulana iminyaka wa ngwevu yakuti
Kungeko nto iyinto oqamele ngayo
Mazitshe ngumlilo namhla ezomdala
Kungene ezomtsha zibete ezintloko.
Hanewu! 1923 nyaka wendiniso 45
Zicande iziziba umke nezidwashu
Zonyaka omdala uzipose emhlana
Camagu! Ke Ndlovu edla igoduka.
Nababekunqwenela! Mabakuyeke!
Uzokutatwa yi Nyanga zine Langa. 50
Siyabulisa ulifezil’ idinga
Taru ntlakotshane imka nabatakati.
Uzuyigqushe indlel’ eye Zulwini
Zitsha nganina indlu zase Afrika
Akuzi Poll Tax, akuzipasi akuzipeshele 55
Sohlala pina? Sohlala emafini.
Akumiteto! Idlul’ eka Moses
Zitsha nganina indlu zama Afrika
Hamba 1923 uyinike ingxelo
Usitetelele ude ucokise. Camagu! 60
Le nto iyiminyaka ayivelwa ngasemva
Abaqondayo bobeta besotuka
Kulapo umntu atshabalala kona
Yingwe yetunzi umfusa wapakade.
A year’s too fierce to take from behind. 65
It’s a sonorous voice that disturbs,
it’s a messenger, with body steaming,
it’s I-hear-them-cry-not-knowing-why.
People die in the course of a year,
it curses them in passing, 70
a shade-screened leopard, dark beast eternal;
chiefs succumb in its clutches.
Cops, the Morning Star comes with dawn:
present your reports to the One on High;
sing as you go just like the angels, 75
plead our case in elegant terms.
The year’s passed with news
of all people on earth,
their conduct, their cruelties,
recorded. Mercy! 80
Lento iyiminyaka ayivelwa ngasemva 65
Nguzwi linzima elixalis’ abantu
Isisitunywa esiqumis’ umzimba
Undiva sekulilwa wena ungaziluto.
Lento iyiminyaka inene bafabantu
Kuba idlula nje iyasishwabulela 70
Yingwe yetunzi! Umfusa Wapakade
Kulap’ Inkosi zitshabalala kona.
Yapuma Inkwenkwezi mapolisa kuyasa
Yiniken’ ingxelo iye kopezulu
Nicul’ ukunyatela ninge nizingilosi 75
Nisitetelele nide nicokise.
Wadlula unyaka wemka unendaba
Zabantu bonke abasemhlabeni
Ezokuhlala nokupatana kubi
Ziyokubhalwa. Taru! 80