Poem
Albert Nyathi
NOZINDABA –GOSSIP*
Always gossipingEverything comes from the gossip
No lies no sleep
Survives on gossip
Neighbour friend does not stay at his home
Can’t even have time with her children to tell some folktales to them
Is all over, does not have a permanent place to sleep
Is all over
Talk of the township
Knows everything and everything comes from her
No longer listened to; no longer respected
People no longer take you seriously
Talk of the township at all times
Morning, afternoon, evening
You are the talk of the township
Nozindaba, leave gossip
Even pastors and gardeners talk about you
You also carry news from traditional diviners
Changing like a chameleon
No one knows where you really stand
Where do you really stand?
At gatherings you occupy you are part of those who address those meetings
Leave the chief alone
© Translation: 2006, Thembelihle Gondo
Literally ‘mother of lies’
NOZINDABA
NOZINDABA
NozindabaThathawese
Umlomo ongahlalwa yimpukane
Undondabo
Nxa ungaqambanga amanga uyagula mngani wami
Nxa ungahlebanga ubuthongo abubuyi
Hawu Makhelwane mngane wami
Kanti uyalunywa na
Ungahla emzini wakho
Wethele abantwabakho inganekwane
Hawu uvuka lapha ulale lapha
Awuswelakali yonkindawo
Ukhona yonkindawo
Awusileli
Aweqiwa zindaba
Kanti awukwazi ukuthi abantu bakhuluma ngawe
yonkindawana
Kanti awukwazi ukuthi abantu kabasakulaleli
Awukwazi ukuthi abantu sebekwenza uhlanya
Awukwazi ukuthi awusahlonitshwa kulindawo
Awukwazi ukuthi abantu sebekwenza undondabo
Uthathekile, imota leyana leyana leyana
Utsho ukuthi awukwazi wena ukuthi usuyindaba egudwini
Sebevukisana ngawe batshonisane ngawe makhelwane
Hawu mngane wami
Hawu Nozindaba mngane wami
Tshiyana lezindaba
Ungukasaleli weni
Ezinkonzweni ukhona uzidlisa satshanyana kubafundisi
Mngane wami
Kwabathethelayo ukhona
Nguwe usithwala mayika
Kanti pho uyini, ungaphi
Haa sengiyabona manje
Ngiyabona ulunwabu wena mngane wami
Tshiyana lakho
Tshiyana lokuba ngumbaxambili
Emihlanganweni uma labaphathi
Tshiyana lekhwapha lenduna
Usekhwapheni lenduna wena
© 2006, Albert Nyathi
Poems
Poems of Albert Nyathi
Close
NOZINDABA –GOSSIP*
Always gossipingEverything comes from the gossip
No lies no sleep
Survives on gossip
Neighbour friend does not stay at his home
Can’t even have time with her children to tell some folktales to them
Is all over, does not have a permanent place to sleep
Is all over
Talk of the township
Knows everything and everything comes from her
No longer listened to; no longer respected
People no longer take you seriously
Talk of the township at all times
Morning, afternoon, evening
You are the talk of the township
Nozindaba, leave gossip
Even pastors and gardeners talk about you
You also carry news from traditional diviners
Changing like a chameleon
No one knows where you really stand
Where do you really stand?
At gatherings you occupy you are part of those who address those meetings
Leave the chief alone
© 2006, Thembelihle Gondo
NOZINDABA –GOSSIP*
Always gossipingEverything comes from the gossip
No lies no sleep
Survives on gossip
Neighbour friend does not stay at his home
Can’t even have time with her children to tell some folktales to them
Is all over, does not have a permanent place to sleep
Is all over
Talk of the township
Knows everything and everything comes from her
No longer listened to; no longer respected
People no longer take you seriously
Talk of the township at all times
Morning, afternoon, evening
You are the talk of the township
Nozindaba, leave gossip
Even pastors and gardeners talk about you
You also carry news from traditional diviners
Changing like a chameleon
No one knows where you really stand
Where do you really stand?
At gatherings you occupy you are part of those who address those meetings
Leave the chief alone
© 2006, Thembelihle Gondo
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