Poem
Mazisi Kunene
RETURN OF THE BIRD OF EXILE
Our regiment haunched heavily on the pure sands of the seaWatching without a murmur waves and spray on the banks
Inert and silent as the albatrosses gambolled on the dunes
United in spirit, in anxiety to strike the blow for freedom
Our sunset eyes espied a giant honey bird charting the route
Meandering along a silver line of those ominous clouds
An evident cue to resume our nocturnal march
Each man longing for the warm hearth of home
The silhoutte of the bird of liberty taking us South
© Translation: 2007, Vusi Mchunu
IMBONO YASEKUDINGISWENI
IMBONO YASEKUDINGISWENI
Sabe sesihlala ezihlabathini ogwini lolwandleSabe sesibuka ukuwa nokuphakama kwamagagasi
Sabe sesilalela ukudlalisana kwezinyoni
Kona kwasekunjengako okwemimoya yethu
Yona inyoni’enkulu sayibona isiyikhwela intambama
Isikhwel’emafini amnyama isigoduka
Nathi laba sase sithubeleza ebusuku
Sesifumbethe imicabango ngekhaya lethu
Lona lase lisibiza lisibiza njalo kude eNingizimu
© 1997, Mazisi Kunene
From: Igudu likaSomcabeko
Publisher: Van Schaik,
From: Igudu likaSomcabeko
Publisher: Van Schaik,
Poems
Poems of Mazisi Kunene
Close
RETURN OF THE BIRD OF EXILE
Our regiment haunched heavily on the pure sands of the seaWatching without a murmur waves and spray on the banks
Inert and silent as the albatrosses gambolled on the dunes
United in spirit, in anxiety to strike the blow for freedom
Our sunset eyes espied a giant honey bird charting the route
Meandering along a silver line of those ominous clouds
An evident cue to resume our nocturnal march
Each man longing for the warm hearth of home
The silhoutte of the bird of liberty taking us South
© 2007, Vusi Mchunu
From: Igudu likaSomcabeko
From: Igudu likaSomcabeko
RETURN OF THE BIRD OF EXILE
Our regiment haunched heavily on the pure sands of the seaWatching without a murmur waves and spray on the banks
Inert and silent as the albatrosses gambolled on the dunes
United in spirit, in anxiety to strike the blow for freedom
Our sunset eyes espied a giant honey bird charting the route
Meandering along a silver line of those ominous clouds
An evident cue to resume our nocturnal march
Each man longing for the warm hearth of home
The silhoutte of the bird of liberty taking us South
© 2007, Vusi Mchunu
Sponsors
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère