I WILL ALWAYS SAY

We exclaimed until our saliva dried out
Every person has turned into bread
We walk helter skelter like worms
The scream reaches the sky
We pray but prayer ends
We become dumbfounded in the end
But I will always say . . .

Damn floods you came rudeness
You gave us no chance to think
People cried out in sorrow
Our brother’s houses were washed out
Lives were lost
Hearts oozed blood
We were left helpless

Our wounds are still fresh
There came violence
Violence which wiped out everything
And corpses piled up
Houses turned into burning flames
Houses became grazing fields
Dongas became homes

Now our stomachs rumble
Human beings have become real animals
Grannies are raped
Children are raped
Animals are raped
We are always holding breath
But I will always say . . .

Happiness has vanished in the world
Here is HIV, AIDS is besieging
Giving birth to orphans every day
Orphans without land
Orphans that will grow up in a shack
Orphans that will grow up with questions
Questions without answers
They will only be covered by poverty
And they’ll be full of hatred

I am gripped by fear and shivering
Earth is really hell
Strange things end knowledge and understanding
Strange things end love
Planting hatred and animosity
The strength of trying is gone
The strength of thinking is gone
But I will always say
One who still lives dies slowly, slowly, slowly

NGOLOKHU NGISHILO

NGOLOKHU NGISHILO

Sibabazile koma amathe
Umuntu wonke uphenduke isinkwa
Siphithizeliza okwezimpethu
Isililo siqhuma phezulu
Sithandaza kuphele umthandazo
Isiphetho kube ukundwaza
Kodwa ngolokhu ngishilo . . .

Zikhukhula ndini nifike nonya
Anangasinika thuba nakucabanga
Kwakhalwa ubumayemaye
Yemuk’imizi yabafowethu
Yaphuma imiphefumulo
Izinhliziyo zagobhoza igazi
Sasala sikhungathekile

Izingozi ziseluhlaza cwe
Fikiyane udlame
Udlame nalo olwashaya laqothula
Zalala zilekanyana izidumbu
Imizi yaphenduka amakloba omlilo
Amanxiwa aphenduka amadlelo
Amawa aphenduka amakhaya

Khona manje kuxhuphuzel’isisu
Abantu baphenduk’izilwane uqobo
Kudlwengulwa zaguga
Kudlwengulwa zingane
Kudlwengulwa zilwane
Sesahlala sibambe umoya
Kodwa ngolokhu ngishilo . . .

Bumnandi bomhlaba sewashabalala
Nang’umashayabhuqe uhlasele
Ukhiqiza izintandane imihla ngemihla
Izintandane ezingenamhlaba
Izintandane ezokhula nozozo
Izintandane eziyokhula nemibuzo
Imibuzo eyobe ingenazimpendulo
Kuphela ziyobe zembethe ububha
Nokuhlala zibhodla umlilo

Ngifikelwa ukwesaba nokuthuthumela
Umhlaba usuyisihogo uqobo lwaso
Izimanga ziqeda ukwazi nokuqonda
Izimanga ziqeda uthando
Zitshale inzondo nobulwane
Amandla okuzama aphelile
Amandla okucabanga aphelile
Kodwa ngolokhu ngishilo
Osaphila ufa kancane, kancane, kancane