Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 September 2022
Nans’ imifula ngiyibona
Ihlakalele phambi kwami,
Inezinyawo njengabantu,
Ishay’ uhel’ ibhek’ olwandle.
Ngiyayibuka ngiyihlola
Ukugwegwesa nokuqonda
Kway’ ihamb’ ingemi ndawo.
Ngiyihlolil’ ekujuleni,
Ngazimelela ngodondolo
Olud’ olubazwe ngenduku,
Ngayizwa laph’ ingasashoni,
Sekuqhamuk’ isihlabathi.
Kodwana mina nginowami
Owangivelela ngiqala
Ukuphum’ emzini kababa,
Ngiyozakhel’ umuzi wami.
Lo mful’ ungilandel’ iphupho
Elingifikela ngilele,
Lingihlebele onk’ amashwa,
Lingixoxele namaphutha,
Lingiholel’ ezithebeni
Zezinambathi namabele,
Linginik’ umkhonto wokufa
Engiwuphonsa ungabuyi.
Ngiwuphonsa kubahlakazi
Bophahla lwendlu yamathongo,
AwoMakhwatha namaGovu.
KwaNdongaziyadum’ eGoli
Bangene bezinyikinyela,
Kanti sebengen’ ogageni.
Bahambe bethi bayaphila,
Kanti sekuhamb’ imimoya;
Bawe ngokuwa bangavuki.
Ngiwubone lo mful’ uhamba
Ubawahlela ngegagasi
Lomnyam’ abazithele ngawo.
La ngiqabuk’ ebuthongweni,
Nginyathela phezu kwekhanda
Labendl’ echamisel’ izitha,
Ngikhul’ amaphik’ anamandla,
Ngizizwe ngifana nokhozi,
Sengindize ngabon’ uMvoti
Oza neHlimbithw’ eMthandeni,
Unqum’ uQwab’ eMakhovane
Laph’ uBhambatha kaMancinza
Wawuncel’ amanzi ngobhaqa,
Washaya wacashel’ umLungu,
Waye wabanjwa phans’ eNkandla.
Ngithe ngikulandel’ olwandle
Ngakhangw’ amanzi adungekile.
Ngawaland’ umkhondo ngafika
Ngabon’ amakhand’ amadoda
Ekhanden’ okwesivivane.
Ngaguqa ngedolo ngabuka;
Ngabe ngiyathe kwathi khuhle.
Ngaqalaz’ umphansi nomzansi,
Kodw’ iso labon’ ithantala
Lamanz’ aluhlaza ehuba,
Nezwe lifukum’ amahlathi
Amnyam’ acinen’ ugagane.
Ngase nginqamanq’ uThukela
Olungawelwa ngazinyawo,
Luwelwa ngekhanda lendoda.
Kulo kwacwil’ amankengane
Amhloph’ avel’ eNtshonalanga
Enezintshebe nemihanga.
Kwacwil’ amnyama namabheshu,
Kwasal’ izinjob’ emsingeni,
Zatholwa zileng’ emhlangeni.
Sazikhomba ngeminwe zonke,
Kanti-k’ uLangalibalele
NoZwide wasemaNdwandweni.
Ngikhuphuke ngamanz’ omfula,
Ngezwa kusinw’ eNingizimu,
Ngezwa ngoShaka kwaDukuza,
Ngezwa ngoShak’ uMlambongwenya,
Ngambukel’ ekwaBulawayo,
Namanz’ oThukel’ abukela.
Ngabhek’ eNyakath’ oPhongolo,
Lwafike lwangiphic’ ikhanda
Ngokugobhoz’ eNtshonalanga.
Ngem’ eziqongwen’ oBombo,
Ngaphezu kwaseMdedeleku,
Ngakhangwa yiSangqu ezansi.
Naso sibhek’ eNtshonalanga,
Siwelwa pheshey’ izindlovu
Ezigitshelwa ngamaLawu
Nezizwan’ ezikhath’ ibovu.
Ngicashe ngemigwenya ngema
Laph’ othekwane bezibuka
Bengaphazanyiswa yilutho.
Ngabon’ izigqimbazanyana
Zipheth’ ulim’ oluyimpithi,
Zangicashela zatshobela
Emigedeni phansi kwewa,
Ngakhwel’ emthini ngaphumula.
Lingibuyele futh’ iphupho,
Langinyenyezel’ endlebeni,
Langenyula phansi kwengubo,
Langikhombisa oLithiwa
Behalazela phezu kwezwe
Bebeleth’ isizukulwane
Sezizwe zonke zikaMhlophe,
Zigeza ngamanz’ eSangqu,
Ziphaqul’ izinsila zazo.
Safika thina bakaMnyama,
Sawuthatha wonke lo mnyama,
Wakhungela phezu kwekhanda.
Yonke le miful’ iyanyelela,
Idlul’ amanxiw’ amadala.
Nezife namasim’ ommbila
Asaz’ aphenduk’ amafusi.
Nezimvula zamb’ amageba;
Kulezo ndawo sekwakhula
Imbuya nezinhlomantethe.
Noma kunjalo le mifula
Iyanyonyoba ngezindlela
Ezigandaywe ngehlabathi
Elihuluka liy’ olwandle,
Lingene lingephind’ emuva.
Yimiful’ emikhulu lena,
UThukela nal’ uPhongolo.
NoMzimkhul’ ufulathelene
NeSangqu sigobhozela
NgaseThalant’ eNtshonalanga.
Kinina mifula ngibone
Amanz’ eklwel’ ephendl’ igazi.
Ngabuka ngancinciz’ ikhanda;
Ngabuka imifanekiso
Yawobabamkhulu befa
Bemanangananga yinhlamvu,
Bengomothel’ emahawini.
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