Tsotso magazine

Side by side

Lize Lifike

Sasesiside lesosikhathi,
Sesibukane sakholiseka,
Sesihlolane saneliseka,
Sasenza leso sinqumo,
Sangena kulowo mumo,
Wokubambana lize lifike.

Halala! Iwamnandi lolo suku,
Isintwana imipululu h alala!
Uyibekil’ enkanyazelayo kowami
Ngiyibekil’ ebenyayo kowakho,
Zifakaz’ oluzikiley’ uthando lwethu,
Liyoze lifike sibambene.

Duze woza wen’ owami,
Ngifun’ ukuthi uhlal’ useduze
Ngikukhethe phakathi kwezinye,
Ezivel’ aphithizele kube ngokunye.
Uthando iwethu lolu ngolunye,
Lunjengamanzi kaGwebe,
Agelez’ okunaphakade,
Lalo logeleza lize lifike.

Siwakhile omuhle olokuthula,
Sahlala kuhle kulokuthula,
Sazuz’ ingane saqhela,
Emagumen’ aboNokusola,
Bancimfa beqond’ ukusola.
Mina lawe sofa sithandana,
Soba sonke size silahlane,
Loze lifike lokhu sithembana.

Lizafika elilomhawu,
Lisithi hluthu! Kuzwis’isihawu,
Wena kwelakho bakugoqe,
Bangigoqe lami kwelami.
Sokhala ngalo lize lifike.

Vum’ ukuth’ sohlala siphile,
Sinanathelane lize lifike,
Uthando lwethu lulokhu luphila,
Sibe munye lakhonale siphile,
Noma elingavikekiyo lize lafika.

The speaker vows that only death can separate two people who truly love each other. For this reason the day of death is said to be envious of lovers.