It Was Not Easy

You were crying, whining like a sickly infant
You thought you were earning but you became unhappy instead
The money was too little,
It could not suffice
You would budget the amount for the head tax, dog tax, hut tax, dip tax,
As you search your pocket, you gape when you discover little left
Even though it was little
You could buy only two or three things
Since they were affordable

Cast your eye on factory workers
Early in the morning they are up
They would walk till they get to work
And get there tired
The intestines are singing a song of woe
As they report the festival of great hunger
They will be yoked and pull hard
As if they will get something great in return, yet they will receive so little
Just to keep them alive and have power to continue generating more slaves

Come month-end
Demonstrations all over
They are now dancing the dance of yore
Agitating for better
As they fight for their rights the boys of the law appears
Looking extremely anger
They mouth vibrating like an angry white man’s dog
Tear gas will be spread
This sjambok will do its work on the worker
Those found in a gathering beware
What are you planning?
You have violated state laws
You will be arrested and thrown into crowded jails
And as you return to work you meet the one expression
“You are fired”
Next comes depression, desperation
They taxes are eagerly waiting for you
The mother of your children is also waiting for that same amount
Since her barren land is a cow that will not produce even a single drop of milk

Oh! Is that where we are returning to now?
Is history repeating its self
Are we drawing close to that same cliff again
Ah! Beautifully nation! Let us be alert lest disaster occurs

Bekungelula

Bekungelula

Ube ububula, uhwinye okosane lutshilwa
Ube uthi uyemukela kwande ukudangala
Ibe inganganani
Ibe ikudonsa okungayi ngaphi
Ube uhlephuna eyomthelo wekhanda, wezinja, weyomuzi, lowedibha.
Uthi uyatshona embhilaphini unkeme usubona esisele
Kungasenani lanxa ibe isiba ncane
Ube ungadobha okobili okuthathu
Lokhu bezincwebeka izinto

Phosa ilihlo ezisebenzini zamafemu
Ngovivi sezehlukane lengubo
Zizakhasabula zize ziyekuthi wo emsebenzini
Zifika umzimba usuvuthiwe!
Amathumbu esetshaya imvokloklo
Asebikelana umkhosi wenkulu indlala
Zizangena ejogweni zisadalale
Kungathi kukhulu okuzazibuyela
Kanti ngitsho kuzakuza yona eyokuziyenga
Eyokuthi zisale zisaphila zibe lamandla okuzala ezinye izichaka.

Woza mpelanyanga
Yikutshengisela kuphela
Sezitshaya isitshikitsha sendulo izisebenzi
Zifuna ethe xaxa
Zisalwela amalungelo azo thutshu abafana bomthetho
Sebezindlondlo
Imilomo isibikizela okwenja yomLungu ngokuzonda
Izahazwa inthuthu ehitshayo
Yenze umsebenzi wayo imvubu
Abatholakala bebuthene watsha
Lihlelani? Seleqe okahulumende
Lizabuthwa liye minyana ezitokisini
Libuyele emsebenzini lihlangatshezwe ngathi
“Usuphelile”.
Kuze ukudangala uswele ukuthi uthini
Imithelo ikuvulele ongaka!
UNakaMfana ulindele yona lokhu ugwadule luyisigqala esiphindiweyo

Kambe yikho lapho esesisiya khona futhi?
Isisiphinda kafuthi imbali?
Sesilengela kulelo liwa njalo?
Hhabe Zulu! Vusa inkophe kungakonakali.