Poem
Mbuyiseni Oswald Mtshali
PIGEONS AT THE OPPENHEIMER PARK
I wonder this, pigeons in the Oppenheimer Parkare never arrested and prosecuted for trespassing
on private property and charged public indecency.
Every day I see these insolent birds perched
on “Whites Only” benches, defying all authority.
Don’t they know of the Separate Amenities Act?
A white policeman in full uniform, complete
with a holstered .38 special, passes by
without raising a reprimanding finger
at offenders who are flouting the law.
They not only sit on hallowed benches,
they also mess them up with birdshit.
Oh! Holy Ideology! Look at those two at the crest
Of the jumping impala, they are making love in full
view of madams, hobos, giggling office girls.
What is the world coming to?
Where is the Sacred Immorality Act? Ag! Sies!
© Translation: 1971, Mbuyiseni Oswald Mtshali
From: Sounds of a Cowhide Drum
Publisher: Renoster, Johannesburg, 1971
Sounds of a Cowhide Drum was first published in English in 1971 by Lionel Abrahams. The 2012 re-issue of the book carries a simultaneous translation of the poems into Zulu.
From: Sounds of a Cowhide Drum
Publisher: Renoster, Johannesburg, 1971
AMAJUBA EPAKINI KAOPPENHEIMER
AMAJUBA EPAKINI KAOPPENHEIMER
Ngiyamangala ukuthikungani lamajuba asePakini kaOppenheimer
engaboshwa ashushiswe
ebiyelwe ngumnikazi wayo abekwe icala lamanyala.
Malanga wonke ngibona lezinyoni ezidelelayo
ziqhwakele.
Phezu kwezihlalo zaba
“Mhlophe Kuphela” zishayindiva yonke imithetho.
Aziwazi na uMthetho oHlukanisa ngeBala?
Iphoyiso elimhlophe lithe dli inyufomu
lagaxa enkohlombeni ivolovolo i.38 iSpesheli
lizithele ngabandayo
lingapakamisi nomunwe ogxeka
izoni eziphula mthetho.
Azihleli nje kuphela kulezihlalo ezicwebile
zizingcolisa ngamashimba ezinyoni.
Hawu! Nkambisa eyiNgcwele
akenibheke lawayana amabili
asegongomeni
wezimpala ezeqayo
ziyakhwelana phambi komisisi, nomadakeni,
namantombazane agigithekayo
asemahhovisi
Ngabe uqondephi lomhlaba na?
Uphi uMthetho oCwebile
wobuMsulwa na? Phu! Susa amanyala.
© 1971, Mbuyiseni Oswald Mtshali
From: Sounds of a Cowhide Drum / Imisindo Yesigubhu Sesikhumba Senkomo
Publisher: Jacana Media, Johannesburg
From: Sounds of a Cowhide Drum / Imisindo Yesigubhu Sesikhumba Senkomo
Publisher: Jacana Media, Johannesburg
Poems
Poems of Mbuyiseni Oswald Mtshali
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PIGEONS AT THE OPPENHEIMER PARK
I wonder this, pigeons in the Oppenheimer Parkare never arrested and prosecuted for trespassing
on private property and charged public indecency.
Every day I see these insolent birds perched
on “Whites Only” benches, defying all authority.
Don’t they know of the Separate Amenities Act?
A white policeman in full uniform, complete
with a holstered .38 special, passes by
without raising a reprimanding finger
at offenders who are flouting the law.
They not only sit on hallowed benches,
they also mess them up with birdshit.
Oh! Holy Ideology! Look at those two at the crest
Of the jumping impala, they are making love in full
view of madams, hobos, giggling office girls.
What is the world coming to?
Where is the Sacred Immorality Act? Ag! Sies!
© 1971, Mbuyiseni Oswald Mtshali
From: Sounds of a Cowhide Drum
Publisher: 1971, Renoster, Johannesburg
Sounds of a Cowhide Drum was first published in English in 1971 by Lionel Abrahams. The 2012 re-issue of the book carries a simultaneous translation of the poems into Zulu.
From: Sounds of a Cowhide Drum
Publisher: 1971, Renoster, Johannesburg
PIGEONS AT THE OPPENHEIMER PARK
I wonder this, pigeons in the Oppenheimer Parkare never arrested and prosecuted for trespassing
on private property and charged public indecency.
Every day I see these insolent birds perched
on “Whites Only” benches, defying all authority.
Don’t they know of the Separate Amenities Act?
A white policeman in full uniform, complete
with a holstered .38 special, passes by
without raising a reprimanding finger
at offenders who are flouting the law.
They not only sit on hallowed benches,
they also mess them up with birdshit.
Oh! Holy Ideology! Look at those two at the crest
Of the jumping impala, they are making love in full
view of madams, hobos, giggling office girls.
What is the world coming to?
Where is the Sacred Immorality Act? Ag! Sies!
© 1971, Mbuyiseni Oswald Mtshali
From: Sounds of a Cowhide Drum
Publisher: 1971, Renoster, Johannesburg
Sounds of a Cowhide Drum was first published in English in 1971 by Lionel Abrahams. The 2012 re-issue of the book carries a simultaneous translation of the poems into Zulu.
From: Sounds of a Cowhide Drum
Publisher: 1971, Renoster, Johannesburg
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