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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 September 2022
Wena kaGovu kaSonkomose,
Siyayaz’ inzondo yanamuhla;
Saz’ okukhul’ okungenancaso.
Sasoneni ngaze sihlupheke
Lokhu kuhluphek’ okungazange
Sikukhethe sibe omzondwase?
Izinhliziyo ziphel’ ithemba.
Kuzithombo zin’ ezitshaliwe
Zingathintwanga yizandla zami?
Namigwaqo min’ ehamb’ isonga,
Idabul’ amazw’ agcwel’ ubisi
Lwezintandane zikaMakhwatha
Ekunamuhla zincel’ izithupha?
Nokho kunjalo siyaz’ ukuthi
Ngelang’ elithize siyophuma
Siphiw’ inkululek’ engapheli.
Lezi ngan’ ezilusapho lwethu
Yiz’ eziyotshal’ imbew’ enkulu
Eyohlokoma ngaphezu kwethu.
Siyihlwanyel’ ezinhliziyweni,
Emiqondweni nasemandleni
Abakhulayo behlumelela.
Masijuluke siye phambili,
Phambili lusapho lweth’ oluhle!
Uzalwe uyihlomkhul’ ephila,
Wakuqamb’ igam’ elithi Ndoda
Ngob’ unguMlamulankunz’ ekhaya.
Uliqambe ngoba unguMenzi,
Wehlukene njengentshonalanga
Ibuqamama nempumalanga,
KoMenzelwe nawoMsetshenzelwa.
Nasezibhedlela kwaMakoti
Wadunyelw’ igam’ elingandile,
Lehla ngezilulu zoPhakade,
Lathi unguMbongen’ okaMafu
Ongahlulwa lutho nom’ oklebe
Base bephakuza izimpiko,
Bencel’ izithupha beq’ ilanga,
Bethi ngeke ngamehlo simbone.
Bheka ngaphuph’ intomb’ uNontula
Ibhinc’ isidwaba nobuhlalu,
Ihamba noMphandle kaFumuka
Beza befanisen’ ukuhloba.
Ngathi ngimi ngithe dlengelele
Kwaqhamuk’ uFani kaMdleyana.
Bonke basina bebon’ insizwa
YawoMenzi kaMakhwath’ imile,
Kanti baling’ ukuyihlakaza,
Bayihlamuka bebhema ngayo,
Befakan’ imilomo ngamanga.
Unjalo wemthombo wakwakufa!
Sithi siya phambil’ ubugqiza,
Ith’ imiful’ iy’ olwandle, wena
Ub’ uqons’ intab’ uy’ oKhahlamba.
Mamo, uligwala we Nokufa!
Ith’ imp’ iphakwa wen’ ub’ uhoxa
EsikaMhlangana noDingane.
Ugwaz’ abangenasiphephelo,
Ugwaz’ abobambo lwakho –
Kant’ ukwehla kwesiqalekiso.
Ngangingaz’ ukuth’ ungubani,
Ngizwa ngendaba la kuxoxwa
Kuthiwa ufika kusale
Ngakulelo qele kukhalwa.
Kusuk’ abayizitha bembe
Beshay’ izinsimbi zemingcwabo,
Bekhuz’ izifo benenjabulo
Ngob’ umnyang’ uvuliw’ oy’ endlini.
Wayesho njal’ ubaba kimi
La ngimphekezel’ ehamba,
Ephung’ izith’ ezinkantolo,
Nalaph’ esehlez’ ekhaya
Umqondo wakhe uthiyaza,
Ngeliny’ ilang’ alal’ ekhohlwe
Ukucim’ isibani sakhe,
Ehlakahlana nomcabango
Wezint’ eziyosimbuka
Phezu kwezint’ azinqumile,
Ekhohlisek’ ebuthongweni
Eth’ izint’ azikhulumile
Ziyoma njengoba kunjalo.
Ngahamba ngifunana nawe
Ntombi yokufa, wen’ ozandla
Zigcwele zonk’ izinyembezi
Nezinsizi zabancane
Abancelwa igazi labo,
Bajuluk’ izithukuthuku,
Ziconsela phans’ ukomiswa
Ikhoza lelanga nomoya
Wentshonalanga ophephetha
Uhwamule umhlabathi
Notshani obumanzi bome.
Ngakufumanisa uhleli
Komkhul’ umnyama namadodakazi
Enzalo yesisu sakwakho,
OKhalisile noMzondwase,
Bebek’ izandl’ ezihlathini,
Amehlo nezindlebe zimi
Zihlongozele abandl’ emnyama
Abanqathuza izindaba,
Begodl’ ekhwaphen’ abayizitha.
Thula wen’ oyibukela kude,
Baningi bebathwel’ emahlombe.
Bawa kanjan’ abakobaDelwa
Becindezelana nezingane
ZawoFelephi kamaNyokana!
Ngibuza kuw’ onamehlo namuhla!
Ngizibonil’ izintokazi
ZawoSihlonono ziphoqoka
Kuyilapho zisuka phansi.
Ngabaleka ngacasha ngomuthi.
Ngabuye ngabona nezabanye
Ziyek’ izihlathi zichithela
Phansi nobuntombi bumsulwa,
Zigawulwa zinsizwa zendl’ emnyama.
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