Poem
Bongekile Joyce Mbanjwa
MYSTERIOUS SHIP
You have done your best, mysterious shipYou have rescued slaves
Slaves who never got a chance
A chance of sucking the milk of the earth
Which is your only will
A will you cannot leave for another person
Mysterious ship
The voices have been heard
The beginning has been heard
Harbours are overcrowded
Everyone is waiting for you, mysterious ship
You have not stopped overeating but you are not enough
Because you are the talk of the town
The youth come out, even elders come out
It is like a dream really
It is like a lie
There are still those who do not understand
Who say I will hear when I arrive there
And they look in disbelief
And they smile joyously
Their hearts become flooded with jubilation
When a person looks at oneself
And sees that one can hold a pen
And put the pen on paper
Today is the day
Those who laugh last laugh longest
The ship enters and berths
You brought in the most loved on earth
You came with the real key
You came with an everlasting legacy
No one can snatch it away from you
I say forward with the wagon
Forward with the wagon with many wheels
Forward wagon that crosses ridges and long distances
I am referring to your everlasting treasure
© Translation: 2008, Siphiwe ka Ngwenya
From: Izinhlungu Zomphefumula
Publisher: Botsotso, Johannesburg, 2008
From: Izinhlungu Zomphefumula
Publisher: Botsotso, Johannesburg, 2008
MKHUMBI WEZIMANGA
MKHUMBI WEZIMANGA
Usebenzile mkhumbi wezimangaIngathi utakule izigqila
Ezingazange zithole thuba
Ithuba lokuncela ubisi lomhlaba
Oluyifa lakho wedwa
Ongasoze walushiyela muntu
Mkhumbi wezimanga
Buzwakele ubuwelewele
Buzwakele ubigodlogodlo
Izitobhi zigcwele ziyanyinyitheka
Kulindwe wean Mkhumbi wezimanga
Selokhu uqalile ugimbaawugcwali
Angithi ungundabuzekwayo?
Kuphuma intsha kuphume esinedolo
Kubukeka kuliphupho qiniso
Kwazwakala kuyimbude uqobo
Bobodwa abangazwisisi
Abathi ngozwa phambili
Bafike babheme bakholwe
Kuqhibuke izihlathi
Inhliziy’iphuphum’intokozo
Lapho umuntu ezibona
Ezibon’kwazi ukubamba
Usiba alubeke ephepheni
Namuhla kunamuhla
Isina muva liyabukwa
Ungene mkhumbi wahlwanyela
Ungene negugu lomhlaba
Wafika nokhiye uqobo
Wafika nefa laphakade
Namunye ongakuphuca lona
Ngithi phambili nenqola kamagayisa
Phambili nenqola emasondosondo
Phambili nqola enqamula
Izihosha nemiqansa
Ngisho kuwe lifa laphakade
© 2008, Bongekile Joyce Mbangwa
From: Izinhlungu Zomphefumula
Publisher: Botsotso, Johannesburg
From: Izinhlungu Zomphefumula
Publisher: Botsotso, Johannesburg
Poems
Poems of Bongekile Joyce Mbanjwa
Close
MYSTERIOUS SHIP
You have done your best, mysterious shipYou have rescued slaves
Slaves who never got a chance
A chance of sucking the milk of the earth
Which is your only will
A will you cannot leave for another person
Mysterious ship
The voices have been heard
The beginning has been heard
Harbours are overcrowded
Everyone is waiting for you, mysterious ship
You have not stopped overeating but you are not enough
Because you are the talk of the town
The youth come out, even elders come out
It is like a dream really
It is like a lie
There are still those who do not understand
Who say I will hear when I arrive there
And they look in disbelief
And they smile joyously
Their hearts become flooded with jubilation
When a person looks at oneself
And sees that one can hold a pen
And put the pen on paper
Today is the day
Those who laugh last laugh longest
The ship enters and berths
You brought in the most loved on earth
You came with the real key
You came with an everlasting legacy
No one can snatch it away from you
I say forward with the wagon
Forward with the wagon with many wheels
Forward wagon that crosses ridges and long distances
I am referring to your everlasting treasure
© 2008, Siphiwe ka Ngwenya
From: Izinhlungu Zomphefumula
Publisher: 2008, Botsotso, Johannesburg
From: Izinhlungu Zomphefumula
Publisher: 2008, Botsotso, Johannesburg
MYSTERIOUS SHIP
You have done your best, mysterious shipYou have rescued slaves
Slaves who never got a chance
A chance of sucking the milk of the earth
Which is your only will
A will you cannot leave for another person
Mysterious ship
The voices have been heard
The beginning has been heard
Harbours are overcrowded
Everyone is waiting for you, mysterious ship
You have not stopped overeating but you are not enough
Because you are the talk of the town
The youth come out, even elders come out
It is like a dream really
It is like a lie
There are still those who do not understand
Who say I will hear when I arrive there
And they look in disbelief
And they smile joyously
Their hearts become flooded with jubilation
When a person looks at oneself
And sees that one can hold a pen
And put the pen on paper
Today is the day
Those who laugh last laugh longest
The ship enters and berths
You brought in the most loved on earth
You came with the real key
You came with an everlasting legacy
No one can snatch it away from you
I say forward with the wagon
Forward with the wagon with many wheels
Forward wagon that crosses ridges and long distances
I am referring to your everlasting treasure
© 2008, Siphiwe ka Ngwenya
From: Izinhlungu Zomphefumula
Publisher: 2008, Botsotso, Johannesburg
From: Izinhlungu Zomphefumula
Publisher: 2008, Botsotso, Johannesburg
Sponsors
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère