Читать книгу Nations's Bounty - Nontsizi Mgqwetho - Страница 13

Mgqwetho launches an attack on L.T. Mvabaza for comments about her published in the Congress newspaper Abantu-Batho. Having previously adopted a stance critical of Congress, Mgqwetho here rolls up her sleeves and takes her gloves off.

4 The woman poet and Abantu-Batho

Maxeke’s split! And the woman poet joined you!

1“Timbilili!” says the sleeper,

suddenly wakened.

“Timbilili!” says the marsh bird,

drenched in rain. 5

2Hawulele! Mvabaza,

the blanket of Congress

has often been rolled up;

today it’s unfurled again.

3Mvabaza, I’ve long had my eye on you, 10

cow yielding dribbles of milk

lacking the strength

to reach the milksack.

4Hawulele! Hule!

Abantu-Batho, 15

you thought you’d retain

the title of guardian.

5 Umteteli wa Bantu

saw right through you:

you’re a sack without water 20

left to breed tadpoles.

6Our people are spent,

urged over the edge,

lacking healers

to administer cures. 25

7The woman poet joined you?

Where did we talk?

In that paper of yours

I’d be torn in the jaws of a lion.

4 Imbongikazi No “Abantu-Batho”

Uqekeko luka Maxeke! Nokuya kwe Mbongikazi:—

1Timbilili! Watsho okade elele

Wabuya wavuka

Timbilili! Watsho okade eneta

Intaka yendada zase Afrika. 5

2Hawulele! Nto ka Mvabaza

Namhla isikumba se Congress

Ngati sisongwa

Sisombuluka.

3Kudala! Mvabaza ndakubonayo 10

Uyimazi elubisi luncinanana

Olungasafikiyo

Nase zimvabeni.

4Hawulele! Hule!

Wena “Abantu-Batho” 15

Wawuba uyakusala

Negama lobugosa.

5Umteteli wa Bantu

Kudala akubonayo

Uyimvaba engenawo namanzi 20

Eyode izale onojubalalana.

6Abantu bayapela

Kukufunzwa eweni

Kuba abanamnyangi

Obabhulel’imiti. 25

7Imbongikazi iyile?

Ndandizakukusukela pi?

Kuba kwelopepa lako

Ndoginywa yimilomo yengonyama.

8I know you well, Mvabaza: 30

you shun the day,

prefering the moon

as travelling companion.

Reader, take note!

9The woman poet joined you? 35

Mvabaza, plain Xhosa eludes you:

please reread my poem

on the split within Congress:

10“Tramps’ ancestors

are no match for mine.” 40

Just what do you think

I meant by those words?

11You tremble, Mvabaza, like jelly

served on a plate;

a Joburg Johnny-come-lately, 45

an overnight leader.

12You’re no leader, Mvabaza,

and you never will be,

all you can claim

is the status of shopkeeper. 50

13Leave Reverend Maxeke alone:

It was God who founded that paper

seeing our people wasted,

urged over the edge.

14When did you win 55

election to rule?

We still have our chiefs

established by God.

15Mvabaza, you’re blind

to God’s creation, 60

wanting me woman poet

of your Abantu-Batho.

16You brag that you brought

the woman poet from Peddie

to earn your bread 65

8Ndiyazi wena Mvabaza 30

Akuvumani nelanga

Kuba waqel’ nyanga

Into ohamba nayo

Paul’a Mfundi.

9Imbongikazi iyile? 35

Akusazi Mvabaza isi-Xosa

Kaufunde kwakona izibongo

Zoqekeko lwe kongressi.

10Iminyanya yakowetu

Ayibambani neyexelegu 40

Ndanditeta ukutini

Xa ndandisitsho?

11Wena Mvabaza uluyengeyenge

Olweza lupetwe ngesikotile

Lwafika e Rautini 45

Lwabona soluyi nkokeli.

12Akuyiyo ke Inkokeli

Nakanye wena Mvabaza

Ungumrwebi

Elona gama lako. 50

13Yekana no Mfu. Maxeke

Ngu Tixo oseke elapepa

Ebona ukupela kwabantu

Kukufunzwa eweni.

14Ngubani owakubeka 55

Ukuba ube yinkokeli?

Zikona nje Inkosi

Ezadalwa ngu Tixo.

15Akuyazi wena Mvabaza

Nendalo ka Tixo 60

Naku nam soundenza

Imbong’kazi ka “Abantu Batho”

16Uyavuya wena weza

Nembongikazi e Ngqushwa

Ukuba mayizokukwenzela 65

in Johannesburg!

That’ll be the day!

17We stumbled in starting.

We seek a ford.

Our people are wasted, 70

urged over the edge.

18Hawuleleh! Huleh! From Jeppe

they urge us over the edge,

they egg on the troops

but stay home themselves. 75

19How come these leaders

never get killed?

They send to their deaths

God’s people and chiefs.

They’re Bailey’s agents. 80

20In urging us over the edge

they’re sinking Africa.

I chant this dancing

near my father’s grave.

Hawuhule! 85

Isonka e Rautini

Sakubona

17Sifunze! Kakubi

Sifuna! izibuko

Abantu bayapela 70

Kukufunzwa eweni.

18Hawulele! Hule!

Funz’eweni base Jeppe

Abamemeza ingqina

Kodwa bengayipumi. 75

19Zinani ezinkokeli

Lento zingafiyo?

Zimana zibulalisa

Abantu baka Tixo namakosi

Yimpi ka Beyele 80

20Yatshona! I-Afrika

Ngofunz’eweni

Utsho obonga engqungqa

Engcwabeni lika yise

Hawuhule 85