Poem
Mbuyiseni Oswald Mtshali
THE SHEPHERD AND HIS FLOCK
The rays of the sunare like a pair of scissors
cutting the blanket
of the dawn from the sky.
The young shepherd
drives the master’s sheep
from the paddock
into the veld.
His bare feet
kick the grass
and spill the dew
like diamonds
on a cutter’s table
A lamb strays away
enchanted by the marvels
of summer morning
The ram
rebukes the ewe
“Woman! Woman!
Watch over the child!”
The sun wings up
on flaming petal
of a sunflower.
He perches on an ant heap
to play the reed flute
and to salute
the farmer’s children
going to school
and dreamily asks,
“O! Wise Sun above,
Will you ever guide
me into school?”
© Translation: 1971, Mbuyiseni Oswald Mtshali
From: Sounds of a Cowhide Drum
Publisher: Renoster, Johannesburg, 1971
From: Sounds of a Cowhide Drum
Publisher: Renoster, Johannesburg, 1971
UMALASI NOMHLAMBI WAKHE
UMALASI NOMHLAMBI WAKHE
Imisebe yelangaifana nembaxambili yesikelo
sisika isibhalala
sentathakusa esibhakabhakeni.
Umalusi omncane
uqhuba izimvu zikabasi wakhe
ezikhipha esibayeni
ezelukela eqeleni.
Izinyawo zakhe ezingacathulelwanga
zikhahlela utshani
zichithe amazolo
njengamadayimani
esetafuleni lomsiki.
Izinyane lidukela kude
likhangwe ubukhazikhazi
basekuseni behlobo;
Inqama
ithethisa imvukasi
“Mfazi! Mfazi!
Qaphela ingane!”
Ilanga lishaya amaphiko
ezihlandla ezivutha salangabi
likajongilanga.
Uqhwakela esidulini sezintuthwane
ukushaya igekle lomhlanga,
ashayele indesheni
izingane zomlimi
ziya esikoleni
abuze sengathi uyaphupha,
“Maye! Wesihlakaniphi seLanga laphezulu,
Uyongiqhuba nini
nami ngiye esikolweni na?”
© 2012, 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
Close
THE SHEPHERD AND HIS FLOCK
The rays of the sunare like a pair of scissors
cutting the blanket
of the dawn from the sky.
The young shepherd
drives the master’s sheep
from the paddock
into the veld.
His bare feet
kick the grass
and spill the dew
like diamonds
on a cutter’s table
A lamb strays away
enchanted by the marvels
of summer morning
The ram
rebukes the ewe
“Woman! Woman!
Watch over the child!”
The sun wings up
on flaming petal
of a sunflower.
He perches on an ant heap
to play the reed flute
and to salute
the farmer’s children
going to school
and dreamily asks,
“O! Wise Sun above,
Will you ever guide
me into school?”
© 1971, Mbuyiseni Oswald Mtshali
From: Sounds of a Cowhide Drum
Publisher: 1971, Renoster, Johannesburg
From: Sounds of a Cowhide Drum
Publisher: 1971, Renoster, Johannesburg
THE SHEPHERD AND HIS FLOCK
The rays of the sunare like a pair of scissors
cutting the blanket
of the dawn from the sky.
The young shepherd
drives the master’s sheep
from the paddock
into the veld.
His bare feet
kick the grass
and spill the dew
like diamonds
on a cutter’s table
A lamb strays away
enchanted by the marvels
of summer morning
The ram
rebukes the ewe
“Woman! Woman!
Watch over the child!”
The sun wings up
on flaming petal
of a sunflower.
He perches on an ant heap
to play the reed flute
and to salute
the farmer’s children
going to school
and dreamily asks,
“O! Wise Sun above,
Will you ever guide
me into school?”
© 1971, Mbuyiseni Oswald Mtshali
From: Sounds of a Cowhide Drum
Publisher: 1971, Renoster, Johannesburg
From: Sounds of a Cowhide Drum
Publisher: 1971, Renoster, Johannesburg
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