Literature in indigenous langauages: Ubhalu Lwenyosi

By Kwanele Khumalo

Basekhona yini omadolo kabonwa?
Yibo abadil’ izindlu kababamkhulu.
Kwathi zonk’ inkunzana ezazingaba,
Yikusasa lomhlambi zasisiswa.
Lanxa umlilo wokotha ububaswa,
Omadolo kabonwa bebewucitsha.

Bama ngesiny’ inqum’ abadala,
Bath’ okungapheliyo kuyahlola
Yeb’ amadoda amabhulugwe.
Athenwa aba zinkabi wonke.
Angen’ indlela aza ngayo.
Zagiy’ izalukazi zatshay’ umpululu.

Kodwa phela izulu lesikhukhula
Kalisekho,
Sesingawubasa laphand’ umlilo.
Kodwa zikhon’ inkunzi,
Zemihlambi yakomakhelwane.
Zidla, zidlalele esibayeni sikababa,
Zith’ amakhosikazi enkunzi kababa
Sengawazo.

Akusizo zodwa lezonkunzi,
Akhona njalo amankabi,
Kwesikababa,
Ala emba phansi ngendololwane.
Ath’ ayikho ezakhonya kulesi.
Kodwa inyosi sizaqhubeka,
Sizihlokoza,
Size siluzuz’ uluju esiludingayo.

Lanxa inkabi ingakhonya,
Njengenkunzi.
Izawazala ngan’ amathole?
Ngob’ away’ amandla,
Ngawok’ udons’ ikhub’ emasimini.
Kheph’ angekhokh’ elumhlambi kababa.

Amahlumela adingan’ ephambanisa,
Ukukhula kwesihlahla sakwethu?
Lath’ iphimbo lokubongolela silalo,
Siligcinile ngoba alilasizo,
Lapho elingadingeki khona.
Amafutha okugcoba silawo,
Yebo singagcoba sicazimule,
Sikhihliz’ aluhlaza tshoko,
Sithi yithi yithi,
Kod’ onguye ekhona.

Hhatshi bo!
Limnikeni okumfaneleyo,
Ngokwakhe.
Kazinikanga khona,
Wakumunya ebadaleni.
Lanxa limenqaba,
Libal’ amabal’ engwe.
Uzasihol’ isizw’ uBulelani.
Isizwe sakithi sizavuka khwatshu!