Читать книгу Nations's Bounty - Nontsizi Mgqwetho - Страница 16

Mgqwetho mourns her late mother, a saintly figure, prayerful, devoted to the service of others in her rural community, and concerned about the wayward life of the cities.

7 Mama’s death

Mrs. Emma Jane Mgqwetho,

daughter of Zingelwa of the Cwerha clan,

much loved by the people

and by her children.

1We give thanks, All-Mighty, 5

Thunder-and-They-Shudder:

the Mgqwetho home shuddered when you thundered,

you seized its central pillar

and left them bereft.

2Grief cleft the Ngojis 10

when you seized this old woman

and showed in so doing

our home is not here.

3When you blot out life

and people pass on, 15

teach us to look

to the kingdom of heaven.

4All of Hackney

knew her as Mama:

she bore limitless love, 20

the selfsame heart,

for every creed.

5Her arms enfolded

not only her children,

enfolded the children 25

of every nation. Mercy!

6On blistered feet she made her rounds

to pray at the side of the sick.

Blessed are those who die in the Lord,

whose sins are washed in the blood of the Lamb. 30

Mercy!

7 Umpanga ka Mama

U Mrs. Emmah Jane Mgqwetho.

Intombi ka Zingelwa Umcwerakazi,

eyayitandwa kakulu ngabantu;

nangabantwana bayo.

1Nkunkutela enkulu masikubulele; 5

Duma Barwaqele;

Owaduma barwaqela kwa Mgqwetto,

Watabata Intsika yomzi wakona;

Wabashiya bekedamile.

2Usizi ke lwayicanda Ingoji, 10

Ukutabata Kwako Eloxegakazi;

Kwasifundisa,

Ukuba apa asinakaya.

3Xa ususayo ukupefumla kwabantu,

Baze babhubhe; 15

Makusifundise nati,

Ukubugqala ubu Kumkani bama Zulu.

4Ihewu lonke jikelele,

Belisiti ukumbiza ngu Mhamha;

Kuba ebenotando olunzulu, 20

Nobunye bentliziyo;

Kwiremente zonke.

5Ingalo zake wayengazoluleli,

Abake abantwana bodwa;

Kodwa ezolulela nabantwana, 25

Balo lonke ilizwe Camagu!

6Inyawo zake zasezityabukile,

Kukuhamba etandazela nabagulayo;

Banoyolo ababhubhele Enkosini,

Abazono zisongelwe egazini Lemvana, 30

Camagu!

7She expressed compassion,

incessantly praying

for Joburg’s children

in the land of horrors. 35

8Lord of all creatures,

you summoned your servant in peace,

as we suffer her death

may our lives be illumined!

9The Chizama blanket’s folded 40

with no one to wear it today.

Oh, Death, you’re the foe,

with your bow and arrows.

10In prayer for the world

this mother of ours 45

would sing a sweet song of praise;

inside the walls of our home resounded,

the people outside grew lean.

11She swayed us with her prayers,

the wayward found new paths, 50

even those who shunned you, Father,

now perceived their splendour.

12She grazed homewards to Jerusalem,

for her a haven of peace;

with callused feet this cow elephant 55

smoothed life’s path for us.

13Torrent whose kindness

flushed river courses,

gush today

in springs above Jordan. 60

14God is love indeed,

but Mama’s love of people

was Hermon’s morning dews

bathing Zion’s hills.

15The light of her love 65

cascaded like willows,

edged with lilies,

sustained by water.

7Umlomo wake onobubele,

Wawungadinwa;

Ukutandazela abantwana babantu,

Abakwilizwe lezihelegu lase Rautini. 35

8Nako ke! Mninintozonke!

Usindulule ngoxolo, isicakakazi sako,

Ke uluvo lokufa kwaso;

Zelubonakale entlalweni yetu.

9Namhla ingubo yakwa Chizama ilele yodwa, 40

Ngokuswel’ umambati;

Awu kufa ulutshaba,

Nesapeta sako.

10Lomzalikazi wetu,

Xa wayetandazela elimiweyo, 45

Ubesitsho ngentlombe emnandi;

Zidume nendonga zendlu yakuti,

Babhitye nabangapandle.

11Ubeutsho Umtandazo batyabatyeke,

Zibuye nezihange emadotyeni; 50

Baubone ubuqaqauli bawo,

Nabampoxe ezinkalweni njenge sikova.

12Kwikaya lake loxolo i Jerusalem,

Wayedla egodusa;

Lendlovukazi—enyawo zinentsente, 55

Isandulela endleleni yobomi.

13Msingakazi obubele,

Behla ngemilambo;

Namhla mabube zingqimba,

Pezu kwe Jordani. 60

14U Tixo Ulutando,

Kodwa oluka Mama ebantwini;

Belunje ngemibete yase Herimone,

Elalayo entabeni ezo ze Ziyoni.

15Isibane sotando lwake, 65

Besinje ngemingcunube;

Etyalwe ngasemijelweni yamanzi adlayo,

Pakati kwazo inyibiba.

16Death, you’re heartless,

unperturbed; 70

a torrent of tears

leaves you unmoved.

17Christ set an example,

we follow his footsteps:

grass will grow on our graves 75

(Reader, take note).

18When trouble struck a home—

perhaps a fall from a horse—

our mother was always first

to rush to the scene, 80

cup of water in hand. Mercy!

19No need for a traveller

to ask if there was water;

drawn by Mama’s glowing compassion

he’d make straight for her home. Peace! 85

20This parent’s departure

leaves us stunned;

among Cwerha and Chizama

bitter tears are shed.

21She went to bed 90

free of anger;

she woke again free of anger;

peace reigned supreme

in the depths of her soul. Peace! Heavens!

22For Johannesburg 95

she’d offer prayers,

noting its Sodom

and Gomorrah.

23This Cwerha daughter

bared her heart: 100

sprites fled the threshholds,

the Winterberg swivelled.

24Who is there, Lord,

who would not fear you,

16Akunalusizi kufa,

Akunako ukucengwa; 70

Bubuninzi benyembezi,

Akunakushukunyiswa.

17U Kristu usishiyele umzekelo,

Ukuze silandele emkondweni wake:

Zakuti izindlu zetu zimile uqaqaqa, 75

(Oleseshayo makaqiqe).

18Bekuti ukuba kwenzakele umntu apo emzini,

Nakuba uwiswe lihashe,

Lomzalikazi wetu abengowokuqala

Ukubaleka ukuya kulondawo, 80

Epete ibekile yamanzi Taru!

19Umhambi ngendlela ebengazange abuze mntwini,

Ukuba amanzi acelwa pina;

Ebetsalwa sisibane sobubele,

Esivutayo emzini ka Mhamha aze asinge kona Camagu! 85

20Kuyadlul’ ingqondo zetu,

Ukushiywa ngulo mzali;

Emacwereni—nakwa—Chizama,

Bampompoza ezir’ar’a

21Ebengazange ayo kulala, 90

Equmbelene namntu;

Ebengazange avuke kanjalo equmbelene namntu,

Kwakulaula Uxolo kupela:

Empefumlweni wake Camagu! Mazulu!

22Ubesitandazela isixeko 95

Sase Rautini;

Ngati uyasibona,

Ubu Sodom nobu Gomorra baso.

23Azinge--Umcwerakazi,

Icandeke intliziyo; 100

Atiyele namachanti Enyangweni,

Zitsho nentaba zenkonkobe zikangelane.

24Ngubanina ongeke akoyike,

Wena Nkosi;

refuse to exalt 105

your holy name?

25Our mother would pray

for an end to war:

“O Lord, put an end

to the letting of blood. 110

26“Lord,” she implored,

“shield our land

from the threat of fire,

of the mines, and of floods,

27“of tempest and lightning, 115

of locusts,

of whirlwind,

of hunger and plague.” Mercy!

28This Cwerha implored,

“Father, pour blessings 120

on this land of ours

so it bursts into bloom like a garden.

29“Support the aged,

so all your people

unite with one heart 125

in love for each other.”

30May all her friends,

dwelling as one

in love for each other,

hear this news of her death. Peace to you all! 130

“Blessed are those who have followed His teachings, so they enjoy the fruits of the tree of life and pass through the gates to the heavenly homestead. Mercy! Hallelujah!”

Angalizukisi, 105

Igama Lako.

25Ubesitsho Lomzalikazi wetu,

Ati Nkosi: Kauyale imfazwe;

Nokupalazwa

Kwegazi labantu. 110

26Amemelele ke! Ati Nkosi,

Gcina ilizwe;

Kuyo ingozi yomlilo

Neyemigodi neyamanzi.

27Neyezipango zezic’oto, 115

Nemibane—

Neyenkumbi,

Neyendlala neyezifo Taru!

28Amemelele ke! Umcwerakazi,

Ati umhlaba wetu, 120

Mawube njengentsimi;

Esikelelweyo nguwe Bawo.

29Yiba ngumxasi wabalupeleyo

Unike ukutandana;

Nobunye bentliziyo, 125

Kubantu Bako bonke.

30Zonke ke izihlobo,

Mazaneliswe ngulo mbiko;

Ezihleli ngomanyano,

Lwabatandanayo Camaguni! 130

“Banenyweba abayenzayo imiyalelo Yake ukuze babe nelungelo kuwo umti wobomi bangene ngamasango kuwo Umzi:—Taru Hallelluya!”